Declaration of Independence

Jefferson knew just what to say, and he said it in a way that inspired people all over the world.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed".

It was an idea so daring that nothing like it had been heard of in governments before. Government in Europe was based in the hand of the nobility, ordinary people did not have an vote to decide who was elected.

Thomas Jefferson

When Jefferson wrote "all men are created equal," he didn't mention about women. Women at this time did not have the vote. Did he mean to include slaves when he said "all men" ? . Jefferson was a slave owner, yet he wrote that slavery was wrong.

Today, when people all over the world read his words, they understand them to mean all people—men, women, and children—of all colors and beliefs

The Declaration of Independnece contained a list of all the complaints that George III and the British Government had done to the colonies. They defined themselves as a Free people and so were able to elect their own government

July 4, 1776. All the members of the Second Continental Congress were in Philadelphia for Declaration of Independence. John Hancock of Massachusetts was the first to put his name down. He did it with a big, bold signature, "so the king doesn't have to put his glasses on," he said. Fifty-six men signed their names on the Declaration of Independence. They all knew that if the colonial army was defeated by Britain, they would hung for treason.

Copies of the Declaration were rushed from the printing press when they were sent on their way to each of the thirteen colonies. It was five days later when the Declaration reached New York City where it was then read aloud to General Washington's troops, who shouted hurrah and tossed their hats into the air. They had declared their independence, the tough part was to fight for it.