Declaration of Independence Remains Powerful Symbol of Freedom for 250 Years

The iconic credo of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the Declaration of Independence has helped define the United States of America for 250 years. However, that specific language was not considered the most significant part of the document when it was first written. Instead, the founders were primarily focused on detailing their frustrations with increasingly oppressive British rule as colonists began to consider what their rights were.

Having been at war with Britain for over a year, the colonists were badly in need of alliances that foreign countries would only forge with a sovereign state. This pushed the founders to formally declare independence to gain freedom, as historians note that the American Revolution could not have been won without a treaty with France and French intervention.

Getting to a formal declaration was a gradual process. It started as a three-part resolution from Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee and was further crafted by a committee of five men: Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. The committee was appointed to explain why the colonies were separating from Great Britain, a task they accomplished by creating a bill of grievances.

Thomas Jefferson put those ideas to life. Following a vote on July 2nd, the Second Continental Congress passed the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. Most of the signers affixed their names on August 2nd, fully believing at the time that they were signing their own death warrants.

This willingness to risk their lives, fortunes, and honor not only laid the foundation for the U.S. Constitution, but it also fueled democratic causes across generations, from abolition to suffrage to civil rights. A direct line can be traced from the Declaration of Independence to the UN Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the declarations of independence of other specific countries. Martin Luther King Jr. famously referred to the document as the great promissory note of America. What began as a bold break from a king became a blueprint for democracy that is still shaping the world today.