In 1776, the thirteen colonies voted to declare their independence from Great Britain.
Thomas Jefferson put their declaration in writing. This document was called the Declaration of Independence, and was signed by fifty-six representatives of the colonies.
The Declaration of Independence is written in language that is easy to understand. It has three parts. The first part, the Preamble, is the most important. It states that “all Men are created equal” and have “inalienable rights,” and expresses belief in democracy, or rule by the people.
This was an unusual idea in those days, because most countries were ruled by kings.
The second part of the Declaration is a long list of complaints against Great Britain’s King George III.
The final part of the Declaration states that because of the above, the colonies are, and shall be, free and independent and no longer loyal to the British crown.
Related Posts
-
Was the Declaration of Independence Really Signed on July 4 1776?
Of the 56 men who signed this important document in American history, only one man actually signed it on that historic date. That man was John Hancock, whose name appears above and larger…
-
Why did Richard Stockton change his mind after signing of the Declaration of Independence?
Richard Stockton of Princeton, New Jersey changed his mind after signing of the Declaration of Independence. In fact, he had had qualms about signing the Declaration in the first place but had been…
-
Why do the Brown and Bruised parts of Fruits Taste Sweeter than the other parts?
If you smashed all the bottles of chemicals in a chemistry lab with a baseball bat, you wouldn't be surprised at any unusual chemical reactions that occurred as their spilled contents ran together…
-
What happened to the desperadoes in Texas after the Mexican War of Independence?
Aided by rich Mexican Americans, Anglo settlers organized posses and vigilante groups to hunt down the bandits known as desperadoes. The effort was successful: by the 1870s, most of the bandits had been…
-
How many people in Puerto Rico wanted independence after Spain ceded the archipelago in 1898?
There are still some people in Puerto Rico who want independence, but they are few in number. When Puerto Rican voters were asked in 1993 to choose among independence, statehood, or continued commonwealth…
-
Who was Jose Marti and How did he contribute to the Cuban struggle for independence?
Jose Marti (1853-1895) was a poet, journalist, and the greatest hero of the Cuban struggle for independence. He was arrested for his revolutionary activities at age sixteen. After his release, he spent much…
