United States Declaration of Independence
1776 CE
Separation of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain.
Historical Context
Following the Seven Years' War, the British Crown imposed heavy taxes on the Thirteen Colonies without granting them political representation ('No taxation without representation').
The Event
Faced with King George III's refusal to negotiate, the Second Continental Congress voted to separate. Thomas Jefferson drafted the text, adopted on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia.
Key Figures
Thomas Jefferson (principal author), John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington (Commander of the Continental Army).
Aftermath
The declaration justified the American Revolutionary War. It crystallized the idea of inalienable rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) enforceable against tyranny.
Legacy & Culture
The absolute model for global declarations of independence. July 4 became the sacred national holiday (Independence Day), cementing the American national myth.
Historiography
The Jeffersonian paradox (writing that 'all men are created equal' while owning slaves) dominates modern critical historiography (e.g., The 1619 Project).
Sources and References
Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
John Adams' Autobiography and Letters