THE United States of America celebrates its Independence Day on July 4, the day in 1776 when the Continental Congress of the 13 American colonies approved the Declaration of Independence and sent copies throughout the new nation. The representatives had voted two days earlier for independence severing ties with Britain. But to explain their decision to the world, many representatives wanted an official approval by the Continental Congress.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” the declaration proclaims. Among them: that all people are created equal, that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed, and that the people may alter or abolish a government that fails to respect its rights.

If you want to read the full transcript of the document, please visit

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript