Declaration Of Independence
Definition
The Declaration Of Independence is a document adopted on July 4th, 1776, which announced that thirteen American colonies were no longer under British rule and had become independent states.
Analogy
Think of the Declaration of Independence as a break-up letter to Britain. It was America's way of saying, "It's not me, it's you. We're done."
Related terms
Thomas Jefferson: The primary author of the Declaration Of Independence.
American Revolution: The war fought by American colonies to achieve independence from Britain.
Natural Rights: Fundamental rights and freedoms that all individuals are entitled to; these were outlined in the Declaration Of Independence as "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness".
"Declaration Of Independence" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (1)
- How might the trajectory of American democracy have differed if Thomas Jefferson did not include "pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.