The Declaration of Independence
Open the interactive lesson
Decisions, questions and your own progress, in the app
Presenting the Declaration of Independence, painting by John Trumbull · Public domain · Source page
The story
Thirteen British colonies in North America, angry at taxes passed without their consent, declared independence on 4 July 1776.
What happened next
The war lasted until 1783, and help from France proved decisive. The new United States became a republic in a world of kings, though its promise that "all men are created equal" excluded enslaved people.
Remember
- Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft
- The slogan was "no taxation without representation"
- George Washington commanded the army
Review question
Which country helped the colonists win?
Answer: France. France sent money, soldiers and a fleet. Its navy helped trap the British army at Yorktown in 1781.
Image credits
- Presenting the Declaration of Independence, painting by John Trumbull · Public domain · Source page
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