View source for The Declaration of Independence

{{Useful Notes}}
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[[The Declaration of Independence]] is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, announcing that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were no longer a part of the British Empire. Drafted by [[Thomas Jefferson]], and revised and approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the Declaration is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to obtain independence.

{{creatortropes}}
* [[The American Revolution]]: Although the Revolution had been in progress for about a year before the Declaration was written, the Declaration was intended to justify it in terms of expelling an occupying army serving a tyrant.
* [[Follow the Leader]]: it inspired a lot of similar Declarations of Independence during the following century.
* [[Have a Gay Old Time]]: Manly Firmness.
* [[List of Transgressions]]:  Committed by the King and his forces and representatives in the Colonies.
* [[Long List]]:  It goes on for quite a while.
* [[La Résistance]]: Was essentially an explanation of why the colonies had a right to form one.
* [[We ARE Struggling Together!]]:  Pretty much describes the process of getting the Colonies (or rather, their representatives in Congress) to agree to it.
* [[You Bastard]]: Was an extended version of this trope to King George III.

{{examples|The Declaration of Independence plays an important role in the following works:}}
== Film - Live-Action ==
* ''[[1776]]'' is story of how the Declaration came to be -- and a [[Musical]] [[Comedy]] that is still somehow both suspenseful and reasonably historically accurate. 
* In ''[[National Treasure]]'' a copy of the Declaration holds a clue to the whereabouts of a fantastic treasure trove.

== Theater ==
* The original stage version of ''[[1776]]'', mentioned above.

==Western Animation==
* This document was part of the plot of one of the nineties era ''[[Johnny Quest]]'' episodes, also featuring the [[Jersey Devil]], where it served as the [[MacGuffin]].

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