Independence Declared: The United States Is Born
Thomas Jefferson spent seventeen days writing and rewriting a document that fifty-six men would eventually sign, knowing it marked them for hanging if the Revolution failed. The Declaration of Independence, ratified on July 4, 1776, did more than announce a political separation. It articulated a philosophy: that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed, and that people possess inherent rights no ruler can revoke. Congress actually voted for independence on July 2, but the formal document wasn't approved until two days later. John Adams predicted Americans would celebrate the second, not the fourth. He was wrong about the date but right about the fireworks.
July 4, 1776
250 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on July 4
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The infant prince died, and his uncle Jordan II took the throne of Capua within days. No debate. No ceremony worth recording. Just a smooth transfer of power in…
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