Declaring Our Independence

In the early 1770s, American colonists became convinced that the English Parliament intended to take away their freedoms. In fact, the Americans saw a pattern of increasing oppression and corruption all around the world.

Indeed, the British were determined to bring their unruly American subjects to heel and began to prepare for war in early 1775. The first fighting between British troops and colonial militia broke out in Massachusetts in April that year. By August, King George III declared the colonists “in a state of open and avowed rebellion.”

For the first time, many colonists began to seriously consider cutting ties with Britain. Publication of Thomas Paine’s stirring pamphlet, “Common Sense,” in early 1776 lit a fire under this previously unthinkable idea. The movement for American independence was now in full swing.

The colonies elected delegates to attend a Continental Congress, which eventually became the governing body of the union during the Revolution. At its second meeting in Philadelphia in 1775, delegates adopted strict rules of secrecy to protect the cause of American liberty — and their own lives.

In less than a year, most delegates had abandoned hope of reconciliation with Britain. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution “that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states.” A Committee of Five was appointed to write an announcement explaining the reasons for colonial independence. Thomas Jefferson, who chaired the committee and had established himself as a bold and talented political writer, wrote the first draft.

On June 11, 1776, Jefferson holed up in his Philadelphia boarding house and began to write. He borrowed freely from existing documents like the Virginia Declaration of Rights and incorporated accepted ideals of the Enlightenment. Later, Jefferson explained that he “was not striving for originality of principal or sentiment.” Instead, he hoped his words served as an “expression of the American mind.”

Within three weeks, he presented his draft to the Continental Congress. Jefferson was not pleased when delegates “mangled” his composition by cutting and changing much of his careful wording. He was especially sorry that Congress removed all mention of slavery.

On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence. Two days later, it ratified the Declaration. John Dunlap, official printer to Congress, worked through the night to set the document in type and printed approximately 200 copies. These copies, known as the Dunlap Broadsides, were sent to various committees, assemblies and commanders of the Continental troops. The Dunlap Broadsides weren’t signed, but John Hancock’s name appears in large type at the bottom. One copy crossed the Atlantic, reaching King George III months later.

The rest, of course, is history.

Mike Pazeian, who taught American history to high schoolers for 30 years, collected this material from the National Archives.