United States Declaration of Independence | Estateplanning

The United States Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, is one of the most influential documents in American history, penned by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, with input from George Washington and other Founding Fathers. This iconic document declared the 13 American colonies' independence from Great Britain, establishing the United States of America as a sovereign nation. The Declaration's eloquent expression of democratic principles, including the notion that 'all men are created equal,' has inspired countless movements for freedom and human rights worldwide, from the French Revolution to the Civil Rights Movement, with key figures like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela drawing upon its ideals.