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Politics & EconomicsThe Declaration of Independence of the United States of AmericaThomas JeffersonThe Declaration of Independence of the United States of America

The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America

Thomas Jefferson

Politics & EconomicsEnglish
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Adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on 4 July 1776, the Declaration announced that the thirteen American colonies were breaking away from…

Catalogue details

Author
Thomas Jefferson
Category
Politics & Economics
Language
English
Source
Project Gutenberg

About this book

Adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia on 4 July 1776, the Declaration announced that the thirteen American colonies were breaking away from British rule. Drafted mainly by Thomas Jefferson, it begins with the principles that would shape modern democracy: that all men are created equal, that they have unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. It then lists the grievances against King George III and ends with the signers pledging their lives, fortunes and honour.

Context and significance

This text has a special place in the history of books: on 4 July 1971, Michael Hart typed it into a university computer in Illinois and shared it, creating the first electronic book and founding Project Gutenberg, the source of many of the books in this library. Its ideas came from works such as Paine's Common Sense, and they echo in his Rights of Man.

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