On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence. Authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson with input from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, it established the core democratic principles of unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
1776-07-04
Declaration of Independence
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America
Executive Summary
The founding document adopted by the Second Continental Congress announcing the separation of thirteen North American British colonies from Great Britain.
📜 Detailed Historical Account
📚 Archival Citations & Primary Sources
National Archives, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses.
Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, Vol. 5.
Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, Vol. 5.