The Declaration of Independence is a document that was adopted on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress meeting at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. It is the founding document of the United States and explains to the world why the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states no longer subject to British colonial rule. The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, with the help of the Committee of Five, which included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. The document was signed by 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress, who came to be known as the nations Founding Fathers.

The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which the US government and identity as Americans are based. It is not legally binding, but it is powerful and continues to inspire people around the world to fight for freedom and equality. The document includes a preamble and a list of grievances against the British government, as well as a statement of the colonists natural rights. The most famous phrase from the Declaration is "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness".

The Declaration of Independence was an important step in the founding of the US government and took courage to write and sign. It is one of the most important documents in the history of the United States and is on public display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C..