Declaration of Independence

(noun)

The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire.

Related Terms

Examples of Declaration of Independence in the following topics:

  • [PF content: The Declaration of Independence]

  • The Declaration of Independence

    • The Declaration of Independence was a letter to the king explaining why the colonies were separating from Britain.
    • The Independence Day of the United States of America is celebrated on July 4, the day Congress approved the wording of the Declaration.
    • After ratifying the text on July 4, Congress issued the Declaration of Independence in several forms.
    • The most famous version of the Declaration, a signed copy that is usually regarded as the Declaration of Independence, is displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
    • Explain the major themes and ideas espoused by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence

  • Political Strife and American Independence

    • That same day the Virginia Convention instructed its delegation in Philadelphia to propose a resolution that called for a declaration of independence, the formation of foreign alliances, and a confederation of the states.
    • The records of the Continental Congress confirm that the need for a declaration of independence was intimately linked with the demands of international relations.
    • Congress would formally adopt the resolution of independence, but only after creating three overlapping committees to draft the Declaration, a Model Treaty, and the Articles of Confederation.
    • Congress next turned its attention to a formal explanation of this decision, the United States Declaration of Independence, which was approved on July 4 and published soon thereafter.
    • Describe the steps taken by the Continental Congress after declaring independence from the British Empire

  • The Framers of the Constitution

    • The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders who participated in the American Revolution.
    • They signed the Declaration of Independence, took part in the Revolutionary War, and established the Constitution.
    • The Signers of the Declaration of Independence signed the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776.
    • Some historians consider the "Founding Fathers" to be a larger group, which includes not only the Signers and the Framers but also ordinary citizens who took part in winning American independence and creating the United States of America.
    • Most of the delegates had been members of the Confederation Congress, and many had been members of the Continental Congress.

  • The First Continental Congress

    • In June 1774, the Virginia and Massachusetts assemblies independently proposed an intercolonial meeting of delegates from the several colonies to restore the union between Great Britain and the American colonies.
    • In September, the first Continental Congress, composed of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies—all except Georgia—met in Philadelphia The assembly adopted what has become to be known as the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress.
    • The document, addressed to his Majesty and to the people of Great Britain, included a statement of rights and principles, many of which were later incorporated into the Declaration of Independence and Federal Constitution.
    • When the first Congress adjourned, it stipulated another Congress would meet if King George III did not acquiesce to the demands set forth in the Declaration of Resolves.
    • By the time the second Congress met, the Revolutionary War had already begun, and the issue of independence, rather than a redress of grievances, dominated the debates.

  • Religious Freedom

    • In the United States, freedom of religion is a constitutionally guaranteed right provided in the religion clauses of the First Amendment.
    • Freedom of religion is also closely associated with the separation of church and state, a concept advocated by Thomas Jefferson.
    • Advocates for stronger separation of church and state emphasize the plurality of faiths and non-faiths in the country, and what they see as the broad guarantees of the Constitution.
    • Their opponents emphasize what they see as the largely Christian heritage and history of the nation (often citing the references to "Nature's God" and the "Creator" of men in the Declaration of Independence. )
    • Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States, who advocated for separation of church and states.

  • The Constitutional Right to Petition the Government

    • The American right of petition is derived from British precedent.
    • In Blackstone's Comment, Last published in 1765, Americans in the Thirteen Colonies read that "the right of petitioning the king, or either house of parliament, for the redress of grievances" was a "right appertaining to every individual. "
    • In 1776, the Declaration of Independence cited King George's perceived failure to redress the grievances listed in colonial petitions, such as the Olive Branch Petition of 1775, as a justification to declare independence: "In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.
    • Historically, the right can be traced back to English documents such as Magna Carta, which, by its acceptance by the monarchy, implicitly affirmed the right, and the later Bill of Rights 1689, which explicitly declared the "right of the subjects to petition the king. "
    • While the prohibition of abridgement of the right to petition originally referred only to the federal legislature and courts, the incorporation doctrine later expanded the protection of the right to its current scope, over all state and federal courts and legislatures and the executive branches of the state and federal governments.

  • The Second Continental Congress

    • The Second Continental Congress was ushered in at the beginning of the Revolution and eventually decided American independence.
    • Notable new arrivals included Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and John Hancock of Massachusetts.
    • The Congress was to take charge of the war effort.
    • On June 14, 1775, the Congress voted to create the Continental Army out of the militia units around Boston and quickly appointed Congressman George Washington of Virginia as commanding general of the Continental Army.
    • On July 6, 1775, Congress approved a Declaration of Causes outlining the rationale and necessity for taking up arms in the thirteen colonies.

  • Party Identification

    • They also can declare themselves independent and not aligned with any political party.
    • People who identify with a political party either declare their allegiance by joining the party or show their support through regular party-line voting at the polls.
    • In 2011, 31 percent of the population identified as Democrats, 29 percent as Republican, and 38 percent as independents .
    • This chart indicates the number of citizens registered as Republicans, Democrats, or Independents.
    • The number of people identifying as independents is rising, indicating that less people are voting solely along traditional party lines.

  • The Rise of Independents

    • Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties.
    • Some officials have been elected as members of a party but became an Independent while in office (without being elected as such), such as Wayne Morse of Oregon or Virgil Goode of Virginia.
    • In November 2005, Manny Diaz was elected Mayor of Miami, Florida as an Independent.
    • Oscar Goodman, Mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada switched his affiliation to Independent from Democrat in December 2009.
    • Describe independent voters in U.S. politics and the history of independents elected to national, regional and local offices