Declaration of

Independence
Worksheets
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 Declaration of Independence Facts

The Declaration of Independence is the name of a statement adopted by

the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the
thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded
themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and no
longer a part of the British Empire. Instead they formed a new nation—the
United States of America.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
★ In the 1600s, the British began to colonize the New World and established
settlements, the first in Jamestown, Virginia. The Thirteen colonies were
founded under the British crown. On October 26, 1760, George III of
England ascended the throne.
★ In 1764, the British Parliament began to impose taxes on the colonists to
compensate for the losses in the French-Indian War. The Sugar Act was
implemented which raised taxes on British goods imported to the colonies,
including sugar, wine, coffee, dye, and cloth.
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Declaration of Independence Facts
★ After few months, the Stamp Act was passed which required taxes on all
printed items produced and used inside the thirteen colonies. It included
newspapers, playing cards, legal and commercial documents, and books.
★ In 1767, the Townshend Acts levied additional taxes on tea, glass, paper,
lead, and painted colors. By the following year, the Coercive Acts, also
known as the Intolerable Acts were imposed on the thirteen colonies. As
a result, the colonists felt that the laws violated their rights, same as with
the first promulgation of the Stamp Act.
★ On March 5, 1770, a group of colonists had an encounter with British
Private Thomas Preston outside the Custom House on King Street in
Boston which resulted in 5 deaths among the colonists. The event
became known as the Boston Massacre.
★ Angered by the new
tax, colonists in
Boston protested
against the British by
boarding three docked
trade ships and
throwing cargo of tea
overboard into the
ocean on December
16, 1773. This event
became known as the
Boston Tea Party.
Boston Massacre Engraving by Paul Revere
★ In response to the growing discontent against the British rule,
representatives from all the colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia
during the First Continental Congress held between September 5 to
October 26, 1774. It was followed by the Second Continental Congress on
May 10, 1775 led by John Hancock.
★ On April 19, 1775, the American Revolutionary War officially began with
the Battle of Lexington and Concord.

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Declaration of Independence Facts
ABOUT THE DOCUMENT

★ The colonists were frustrated with King George and Great Britain. The
men in the Second Continental Congress wanted to inform the King of
how people were feeling, and what they wanted done.
★ Five men were selected to write a letter to King George. Four of the men
were from the Northern Colonies. They were John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. One man was from the
Southern colony of Virginia. This man was Thomas Jefferson. Thomas
Jefferson was asked to write the actual “letter” because he was such a
good writer.
★ The Declaration of Independence contained three important points the
Congressional Representatives of the Thirteen Colonies wanted King
George to know.
★ First, the documents told the King what they believed made good
government. Secondly, it described which rules and taxes the
representatives thought were unfair. The last statement the
representatives included was to declare the colonies free and
independent from Britain.
★ Essentially, the Declaration of Independence declared war against King
George and Great Britain.
★ The Declaration of Independence was signed by the Congressional
Representatives of the Thirteen Colonies on July 4, 1776.
★ Many believe that the most famous and important words in the English
language are:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that
all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

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Declaration of Independence Facts
★ After the letter was finalized on July 4, the Second Continental Congress
made copies and distributed it to the people. The most famous version of
the Declaration, a signed copy that is usually regarded as THE
Declaration of Independence, is on display at the National Archives in
Washington, D.C.
★ Underneath the word “citizens” there is a smudge on the Declaration of
Independence. Historians have always wondered what was under the
smudge. Special imaging technology has allowed us a look under the
word. Jefferson made a big mistake and accidentally wrote the word
“subjects” instead of “citizens”.
★ The original Declaration of Independence was not well cared for.
Congress would roll it up and carry it with them wherever they met. It
suffered a lot of wear and tear. Finally, it came to rest under bullet-proof
glass in a titanium case. The case has argon gas inside, which prevents it
from decomposing.
★ The Declaration of Independence was written on parchment. Parchment
is animal skin which is very thin and treated. Iron gall ink was used to
write on the parchment, which is made by combining fermented oak
marble galls with ferrous sulfate.
★ Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. The youngest
signer of the Declaration of Independence was Edward Rutledge. He was
26 years old. The only person to ever recant his oath in signing the
document was Richard Stockton. John Hancock was President of
Congress at the time. His signature is the first and largest on the
Declaration. It is rumored that he signed it large and bold because he
wanted King George to be able to read it without his spectacles.

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Name: ________________________________

Mapping the Colonies

The Declaration of Independence is the name of a statement adopted by
the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the
thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as thirteen newly
independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British Empire.
Identify the Thirteen Colonies on the map using color codes.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM

 Mapping the Colonies
ANSWER KEY

MASSACHUSETT
S
NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

CONNECTICUT

MARYLAND

DELAWARE

NEW JERSEY

VIRGINIA

GEORGIA
NORTH
CAROLINA
SOUTH
CAROLINA

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM

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