History of the Declaration of Independence

“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another... a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to separation,” Thomas Jefferson wrote in June of 1776.

His powerful words changed the course of history.

The preamble to the Declaration of Independence continues, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.”

The historic words within the Declaration of Independence continue to impact America. Two hundred, thirty-nine years after 13 rebellious colonies announced their separation from Great Britain, how much of the Declaration’s history is common knowledge?

When the Revolutionary War began, the colonists were originally fighting for rights, not independence.

History.com explains, “Even after the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did—like John Adams—were considered radical.

This belief shifted in the October of 1775 as King George III expanded the size of the British troops present in the colonies. Furthermore, in March of 1776 Thomas Paine published Common Sense, whose 150,000 copies in the first few weeks of its publication spread the idea that independence was a “natural right”.

Independence was discussed at the second Continental Congress of 1776.

A five man committee of state delegates, including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert R. Livingston were assigned the task of drafting a “formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain” history.com says.

Congress official adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, however it wasn’t signed until August 2nd. This delay had two causes: firstly, only twelve of the thirteen colonies were in favor of independence. New York delegates postponed until July 9th, history.com states, because their “home assembly hadn’t yet authorized them to vote in favor of independence.” Secondly, it took two weeks for the document to be copied onto parchment in clear hand.

Word about the Declaration of Independence was spread through the colonies between July 4 and August 2 via “Dunlap broadsides”. These copies of the Declaration, named after the Philadelphia newspaper shop they were printed in, “were dispatched [on July 5] across the 13 colonies to newspapers, local officials and the commanders of the Continental troops... Of the hundred thought to have been printed on the night of July 4th, only 26 copies survive.”

Based on the history of the Declaration of Independence, modern day traditions may seem out of context. According to slate.com, the first occurrence of fireworks was July 4, 1777 in Philadelphia, as the Pennsylvania Evening Post recorded, “The evening was closed with the ring of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets on the Commons) and the city beautifully illuminated.”

Celebration is precisely what John Adams intended.

Slate.com continues, Adams wrote in a letter to his wife, “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival... It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”