What events led to the American Declaration of Independence?

Listen to Genevieve talking about the events which led to the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

This is possibly the most famous line from the American Declaration of Independence. In this part of the Declaration, the colonists state that revolution is justified when a government goes against human rights. The Declaration argues that all people are equal in the eyes of God and that everyone is entitled to live freely.

The Declaration goes on to list specific complaints which the American colonists had against the British government, and concludes by declaring the 13 British colonies on the east coast of North America independent.

• Do you know of any other countries who have fought to gain independence?
• What was their reason for doing so?

Please share your knowledge with other learners on the course.

In the next step, you are going to read a modern day version of the American Declaration of Independence.