Declaration of Independence

Definition

A document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that thirteen American colonies were now independent states and no longer under British rule.

Related terms

Thomas Jefferson: He was an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

Second Continental Congress: A convention of delegates from Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body during the American Revolution.

Unalienable Rights: Fundamental rights that cannot be surrendered or transferred; these include life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness as stated in Declaration.