THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE by Thomas Jefferson
After a series of laws meant to punish the American colonists (including the taxation of paper products and
forcing colonists to host British soldiers in their homes) representatives from the thirteen colonies came
together to declare independence from Great Britain. The following is the document they wrote and signed
on July 4, 1776. This text also contains some outdated and offensive language that was often considered
acceptable at the time the text was published.
Reading Directions: Read and create annotations using commonlit. org annotation tool. As you read,
identify the various reasons why the colonies decided to declare their independence. Make annotations by
doing any of the following:
1. What are the commonalities present in the list of complaints against the King? What do you
think motivated the king to act in these ways, based on your reading and your understanding of
American and British history?
1. Do you think this declaration is a uniquely American document? How does this document set the
groundwork for a national American identity? What values or ideas are present even today in
American culture and legislature?