The United States Declaration of Independence is a very important American text adopted on July 4, 1776. In fact, thirteen British North American colonies use it to proclaim their independence from Great Britain. 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence equally pledging to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and has three main parts to it which include a proclamation on the rights of man and the authenticity of revolution, criticism against King George III of England, and a formal claim of independence. The American colonists were announcing to the world their independence from Great Britain and they hoped this would gain support and assistance from European powers such as France. The declaration of independence was all about the unalienable rights, rights that should never be taken away, for the people. The people officially gained the right to alter or abolish any government that threatened their unalienable rights and to install a new government that could uphold these principals. The British King had taken many of these rights away and the Declaration listed these numerous ways in which he had done so. On July 2, 1776, the delegates voted that the colonies were free and on July 4th they officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was then read to a crowd in front of the Philadelphia State House, or Independence Hall.
             As the years have passed since the Declaration of Independence has passed, it has made a great impact on American history. It flat our states that all men are created equal and when it was written, it expressed the common beliefs that free citizens were political equals. Although it did not mention any specific minority groups, it presented ideals that would later help groups such as slaves or women later. The first draft actually contained an attack on the cruelty and injustice of the salve trade but South Carolina and Georgia o...