---
title: "Declaration of Independence Definition | Model Diplomat"
description: "The Declaration of Independence is the 1776 document declaring the American colonies free from British rule, pivotal for U.S. history and governance."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/declaration-of-independence"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Declaration of Independence is the 1776 document by which the Second Continental Congress proclaimed the thirteen American colonies free and independent states severed from British rule.
- Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and who else served on the drafting committee?
- Why are July 2 and July 4, 1776, both significant?
- What political philosophy underlies the Declaration?
- Does the Declaration of Independence have legal force as governing law?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Declaration of Independence is the 1776 document by which the Second Continental Congress proclaimed the thirteen American colonies free and independent states severed from British rule.

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In 1776, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence for the Second Continental Congress, which adopted it on July 4 to justify the thirteen colonies' separation from King George III's Britain.

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