Declaration of Independence:

The French and Indian wars cost Britain a lot of money.  In order to pay for the protection of the American Colonies the British Parliament raised taxes on the Americans.  This tax increase did not set well with the Americans because they were not represented in Parliament. 

Representatives of the Colonies met to decide what to do about these taxes.  One third of Americans wanted to be free, one third wanted to remain loyal to King George and Great Britain.  It was at this meeting, called the Continental Congress, that they decided to cut off all trade with Great Britain.  

Thomas Jefferson wrote much of the Declaration of Independence.  However there were four other members of the committee, Roger Sherman, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Ben Franklin.  They wanted the Declaration to explain to the entire world why the Americans were going to war.

Thomas Jefferson took two weeks to write it. He showed it to Franklin and Adams, and they made a few changes. Then they gave the paper to Congress to look at.

On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to fight for independence. Even though they voted on July 2, they took two days to study Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration. They read it and made a few more changes.

On July 4, 1776, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. Copies of it were sent around the country, and it was read to the Americans.

The Declaration says that people are all created equal. It says that people have the right to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It said that the colonies were now free states.

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