The Declaration of Independence, unanimously approved by the second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, created a new nation, the "United States of America." Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it formally "dissolved the connection" between the thirteen states (which were now using the name the "United Colonies") and Britain. July 4 is still celebrated as the nation's birthday. The document enshrines the basic values of republicanism as the foundation of America; it inspired similar declarations in over a hundred countries.

The declaration contains three major characters, the people, the king, and God.  This logical and legal argument for separation is based upon the "self evident truth" that the people are given rights by their God.  Jefferson argues that when the king (or any government) moves from protecting the rights of the governed and "evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their security."  Essentially, that's what the Declaration of Independence does.  It removes the king as a barrier of the rights of man and empowers the citizens who are the initial recipients of the rights to form a government for themselves.

This statement, and independence was not possible without The Great Debate of 1775-17761, an item that has been ignored in most history books.  The "great debate" hinged around the question of whether or not the current population of the colonies were moral enough to govern themselves.  Benjamin Franklin put the weight of the question in these words, "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.  As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."2"  Independence from tyranny is directly connected to the virtue of those who wish to be independent.  Once had resolved this question was answered by long persuasion (and even violence) the logical arguement of independence held weight. 

This initial debate helps frame the magnitude of the statement made during the Declaration of Independence.  It's more than just a bold statement separating ties from a mother country.  It is a legal statement using God as one of its principle characters implementing the philsophy of John Locke (1632-1704) while creating a new nation.

There are 56 signatures on the declaration of independence

Georgia

Button Gwinnett

Lyman Hall

George Walton

North Carolina

William Hooper

Joseph Hewes

John Penn

South Carolina

Edward Rutledge

Thomas Heyward, Jr.

Thomas Lynch, Jr.

Arthur Middleton

Massachusetts

John Hancock

Maryland

Samuel Chase

William Paca

Thomas Stone

Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia

George Wythe

Richard Henry Lee

Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Harrison

Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Francis Lightfoot Lee

Carter Braxton

Pennsylvania

Robert Morris

Benjamin Rush

Benjamin Franklin

John Morton

George Clymer

James Smith

George Taylor

James Wilson

George Ross

Delaware

Caesar Rodney

George Read

Thomas McKean

New York

William Floyd

Philip Livingston

Francis Lewis

Lewis Morris

New Jersey

Richard Stockton

John Witherspoon

Francis Hopkinson

John Hart

Abraham Clark

New Hampshire

Josiah Bartlett

Matthew Thornton

William Whipple

Massachusetts

Samuel Adams

John Adams

Robert Treat Paine

Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island

Stephen Hopkins

William Ellery

Connecticut

Roger Sherman

Samuel Huntington

William Williams

Oliver Wolcott

 

Questions to answer:

• What was the international significance of this document?
• How long was it debated?
• Do we have a timeline of the debate?
• How has this significant event been portayed in film, books, and plays?
• What exactly makes a document such as this legal?
• How much of this changed from Jefferson's original draft :: Side by side comparison?
• Who were the signers?
• How was it published?
• What was the popular reaction?
• How was this news recieved by the Army?
• Was this the first legal document to use "The United States of America" (a term coined by Thomas Paine?

1. 1. The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World p 41
2. 2. The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World p 41