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Declaration of IndependenceThomas JeffersonSecond Continental CongressAmerican RevolutionNational Archives

United States Declaration of Independence: History, Authorship, and Legacy

United States Declaration of Independence: History, Authorship, and Legacy The United States Declaration of Independence stands as one of the most significant documents in human history. ...

United States Declaration of Independence: History, Authorship, and Legacy

The United States Declaration of Independence stands as one of the most significant documents in human history. Drafted during the heat of the American Revolution, it served as the formal announcement that the thirteen united colonies were severing their political ties with Great Britain to become sovereign states.

While often viewed as a single, static text, historians note that the Declaration is a complex collection of writings, including the original rough drafts, the printed broadsides that spread the news, and the final engrossed copy that is preserved today. It was a document born of intense debate, philosophical influence, and a profound desire for self-governance.

Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration
Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration

Key Facts

The Thirteen Colonies as they existed on July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress unanimously approved the text of the Declaration of Independence. (Most border disputes omitted; territory between the Proclamation Line of 1763 and the Mississippi River was part of Quebec and land reserved for Native Americans until the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Some colonies had already declared independence; see Territorial evolution of the United States § 1776–1784 (American Revolution).)
The Thirteen Colonies as they existed on July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress unanimously approved the text of the Declaration of Independence. (Most border disputes omitted; territory between the Proclamation Line of 1763 and the Mississippi River was part of Quebec and land reserved for Native Americans until the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Some colonies had already declared independence; see Territorial evolution of the United States § 1776–1784 (American Revolution).)
  • Primary Author: Thomas Jefferson, as part of the Committee of Five.
  • Ratification Date: July 4, 1776.
  • Signatories: 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress.
  • Primary Purpose: To explain and announce the separation from Great Britain.
  • Current Location: The engrossed copy is held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

The Drafting and Adoption Process

A 1697 portrait of English political philosopher John Locke
A 1697 portrait of English political philosopher John Locke

In the summer of 1776, the Second Continental Congress moved toward formal independence. The task of drafting the document was assigned to a committee, with Thomas Jefferson serving as the principal author. Jefferson composed much of the text in June 1776 while staying at a boarding house in Philadelphia.

Declaration House, the reconstructed boarding house at Market and South 7th Streets in Philadelphia, where Jefferson wrote the Declaration in June 1776
Declaration House, the reconstructed boarding house at Market and South 7th Streets in Philadelphia, where Jefferson wrote the Declaration in June 1776

Jefferson utilized a portable writing desk to compose his draft, a process that involved refining ideas regarding natural rights and the grievances against the British Crown. The resulting text was presented to the Congress, where it underwent various revisions. The final version, known as the engrossed copy, was written by Timothy Matlack.

The portable writing desk on which Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence
The portable writing desk on which Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence

The adoption of the text was a momentous occasion. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously approved the Declaration. This act was finalized in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

The Assembly Room in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence
The Assembly Room in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence
Writing the Declaration of Independence, 1776, a 1900 portrait by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris depicting Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson working on the Declaration[75]
Writing the Declaration of Independence, 1776, a 1900 portrait by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris depicting Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson working on the Declaration[75]

The Committee of Five and the Signers

While Jefferson was the primary writer, he worked within a committee. The final document was signed by 56 delegates representing the various colonies, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, and Georgia, among others. Each signature served as a formal authentication of the colonies' intent to be free and independent.

On July 4, 1776, Second Continental Congress President John Hancock's signature authenticated the Declaration of Independence.
On July 4, 1776, Second Continental Congress President John Hancock's signature authenticated the Declaration of Independence.
About 50 men, most of them seated, are in a large meeting room. Most are focused on the five men standing in the center of the room. The tallest of the five is laying a document on a table.
John Trumbull's famous 1818 portrait is often identified as a depiction of the Declaration's signing, but it actually shows the drafting committee presenting its work to the Second Continental Congress.[232]

Structure and Content of the Declaration

The Syng inkstand used for the signing of the Declaration and the Constitution
The Syng inkstand used for the signing of the Declaration and the Constitution

The Declaration is structured logically to build a legal and moral case for independence. It begins with a Preamble, which outlines the philosophical reasons for the separation, asserting that certain truths are self-evident.

This is followed by an Indictment—a detailed list of grievances against King George III. These grievances included:

  • Imposing taxes without the consent of the colonists.
  • Cutting off trade with the rest of the world.
  • Depriving citizens of the benefit of trial by jury.
  • Quartering large bodies of armed troops among the population.
  • Transporting colonists overseas to be tried for pretended offenses.
The opening of the Declaration's original printing on July 4, 1776, under Jefferson's supervision, engrossed and signed in August 1776 includes slightly edited phrasing to its opening lines, including the pointed addition of the word "unanimous", reflecting that each of the 56 delegates of the Second Continental Congress signed it.[88]
The opening of the Declaration's original printing on July 4, 1776, under Jefferson's supervision, engrossed and signed in August 1776 includes slightly edited phrasing to its opening lines, including the pointed addition of the word "unanimous", reflecting that each of the 56 delegates of the Second Continental Congress signed it.[88]

The Document's Evolution and Publication

Johannes Adam Simon Oertel's portrait Pulling Down the Statue of King George III, N.Y.C., c. 1859, depicts citizens destroying a statue of King George after the Declaration was read in New York City on July 9, 1776.
Johannes Adam Simon Oertel's portrait Pulling Down the Statue of King George III, N.Y.C., c. 1859, depicts citizens destroying a statue of King George after the Declaration was read in New York City on July 9, 1776.

The Declaration was not just a single parchment; it lived through various forms. Immediately following its approval, John Dunlap printed approximately 200 broadsides (large printed sheets) to spread the news. These printed versions were the first way the public and the military encountered the text.

Copy of printed Declaration of Independence issued to American naval ships, captured at sea and sent to the Admiralty in London.
Copy of printed Declaration of Independence issued to American naval ships, captured at sea and sent to the Admiralty in London.

Historian Julian P. Boyd has argued that these printed broadsides should be considered official texts alongside the engrossed copy. Today, only 26 of these original Dunlap broadsides are known to survive.

Summary of Declaration Document Versions
Document Type Primary Purpose Current Location/Status
Rough Draft Initial composition and revision Library of Congress
Dunlap Broadsides Public dissemination of the text 26 surviving copies worldwide
Engrossed Copy Official signed version for the archives National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Legacy and Global Influence

In March 2025, President Donald Trump requested that a copy of the Declaration of Independence be hung in the Oval Office.
In March 2025, President Donald Trump requested that a copy of the Declaration of Independence be hung in the Oval Office.

The Declaration of Independence has had a profound impact far beyond the borders of the United States. It has served as a template for various movements seeking liberty and equality. From the Women's Suffrage movement, which utilized the Declaration's principles in the 1848 Declaration of Sentiments, to the Civil Rights Movement, the document's language has been invoked to demand justice.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her two sons in 1848
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her two sons in 1848

Even in the context of slavery, the document's ideals were used as a tool for liberation. Figures like John Brown issued their own "Declaration of Liberty," and Abraham Lincoln frequently referenced the Declaration's principles to argue for the preservation of the Union and the end of slavery.

William Whipple, signer of the Declaration of Independence, freed a person he had enslaved, believing that he could not both fight for liberty and own a slave.
William Whipple, signer of the Declaration of Independence, freed a person he had enslaved, believing that he could not both fight for liberty and own a slave.
Then U.S. Congressman Abraham Lincoln, who believed the Declaration expressed the highest principles of the American Revolution, in 1846
Then U.S. Congressman Abraham Lincoln, who believed the Declaration expressed the highest principles of the American Revolution, in 1846

Today, the original document is housed in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom at the National Archives, where it remains a central symbol of American democracy.

The National Archives' Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom where, between two Barry Faulkner murals, the original United States Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and other American founding documents are publicly exhibited
The National Archives' Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom where, between two Barry Faulkner murals, the original United States Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and other American founding documents are publicly exhibited
The signed Declaration of Independence, now badly faded because of poor preservation practices during the 19th century, is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The signed Declaration of Independence, now badly faded because of poor preservation practices during the 19th century, is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution on display in the Library of Congress prior to the removal to the National Archives, December 13, 1952
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution on display in the Library of Congress prior to the removal to the National Archives, December 13, 1952

Frequently Asked Questions

The reverse side of the United States two-dollar bill
The reverse side of the United States two-dollar bill
The Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence in Washington, D.C.'s Constitution Gardens
The Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence in Washington, D.C.'s Constitution Gardens

Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson was the principal author, working as part of the Committee of Five.

Where is the original Declaration of Independence kept?

The engrossed, signed copy is located at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

How many people signed the Declaration?

A total of 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress signed the document.

Was the Declaration signed on July 4, 1776?

While the text was approved on July 4, 1776, the formal signing of the engrossed parchment took place later in August 1776.

What is the difference between the Declaration and the Constitution?

The Declaration of Independence was a statement of principles and a notice of separation from Britain, whereas the Constitution is the legal framework that establishes the government of the United States.

References

  1. The writings in question include Wilson's Considerations on the Authority of Parliament and Jefferson's A Summary View of the Rights of British America (both 1774), as well as Samuel Adams's 1768 Circular Letter.
  2. This information can be found in the United States National Archives at the following: "The Declaration of Independence - The Declaration of Independence (back)". National Archives and Records Administration. Archived from the original on July 22, 2025.
  3. A brief, online overview of the classical liberalism vs. republicanism debate is by Alec Ewald at The American Republic: 1760-1870 at the Wayback Machine (archived 2008-05-17). Historian Robert Middlekauff argues that the political ideas of the independence movement took their origins mainly from the "eighteenth-century commonwealthmen, the radical Whig ideology", which in turn drew on the political thought of John Milton, James Harrington, and John Locke.
  4. See Inventing America, especially chapters 11–13. On Page 315 Wills states that "the air of enlightened America was full of Hutcheson's politics, not Locke's" an interpretation that has been strongly criticized by other historians
  5. Hamowy in "Jefferson and the Scottish Enlightenment" argues that Wills gets much wrong (p. 523), that the Declaration seems to be influenced by Hutcheson because Hutcheson was, like Jefferson, influenced by Locke (pp. 508–09), and that Jefferson often wrote of Locke's influence, but never mentioned Hutcheson in any of his writings (p. 514). See also Kenneth S. Lynn, "Falsifying Jefferson", Commentary 66 (Oct. 1978), 66–71. Ralph Luker, in "Garry Wills and the New Debate Over the Declaration of Independence" Archived March 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (The Virginia Quarterly Review, Spring 1980, 244–61) agreed that Wills overstated Hutcheson's influence to provide a communitarian reading of the Declaration, but he also argued that Wills's critics similarly read their own views into the document.