Drafted by thomas jefferson with a preamble by john adams and editing by benjamin franklin and other members of congress it outlines the offenses of king george iii to justify the vote for independence that had taken place two days earlier.
Declaration of independence words. Action of second continental congress july 4 1776. The unanimous declaration of the thirteen united states of america when in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature s god. On june 11 1776 congress selected a committee of five including john adams benjamin franklin thomas jefferson robert r. The following text is a transcription of the stone engraving of the parchment declaration of independence the document on display in the rotunda at the national archives museum the spelling and punctuation reflects the original.
The declaration of independence was the first formal statement by a nation s people asserting their right to choose their own government. Text of the declaration of independence. Livingston and roger sherman of connecticut to draft a declaration. The declaration of independence was adopted on july 4 1776 by the second continental congress in philadelphia.
In addition to the primary one that established the united states of america as an independent nation an additional function of the declaration of independence was a listing of the perceived legislative infractions and humanitarian crimes the authors of the declaration of. When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature s god entitle them a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should. The united states declaration of independence is the pronouncement adopted by the second continental congress meeting at the pennsylvania state house now known as independence hall in philadelphia pennsylvania on july 4 1776 the declaration explained why the thirteen colonies at war with the kingdom of great britain regarded themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states no longer. Text of the declaration of independence.