The Declaration of Independence
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The Declaration of Independence declared the independence of the thirteen colonies in North America from the rule of Great Britain.
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and signed by John Hancock on 4 July 1776, the Declaration gave justification for freedom from Great Britain and lay out the philosophical and political future for an independent United States of America.
A later more extensive version of the declaration was signed by representatives of all the thirteen colonies in August of the same year.
The Declaration signalled the start of a short war with British forces, the War of Independence, which led to the formation of the free United States of America.