Why was the Declaration of Independence important in the American Revolution?

As many historians have pointed out, the colonies were losing the Revolutionary War when their delegates approved the Declaration of Independence. So it was not as if the British recognized independence when they declared it. But it was important for many reasons. First, it gave each colony, which had for at least one year expelled British governing officials, the green light to develop its own constitution. By the end of the year, most of them had done so. Second, it ensured that the Revolutionary War was to be a fight to the finish, without a negotiated settlement that did not involve American independence. Third, the principles stated in the Declaration (particularly the statement that "all men are created equal") have often served as a touchstone in American politics. Last, and perhaps most important, the Declaration of Independence basically paved the way for a formal alliance with France, an arrangement that was absolutely essential to actually winning independence. So the Declaration of Independence was a document of major historical significance.

What prompted the creation of the Declaration of Independence?

There were many reasons that the colonies declared independence in 1776. Let us look at a few of them:

• The United States was losing the war against Great Britain in 1776, and desperately needed foreign recognition and assistance, especially from France. Declaring independence made it more diplomatically palatable for the French to intervene, which they did in 1777. It also made it possible to negotiate loans from European governments.
• Many of the colonies were left without government after the British royal government was driven out. They needed to declare their independence in order to craft new constitutions to establish governments at the state level.
• More than a year of war had made many Americans believe that no reconciliation was possible with the mother country. Too many people had died for the war to be a matter of protecting the rights of Americans as British subjects.

The reasons for the Declaration of Independence itself were basically to assert the colonists' case for independence. They grounded their arguments in the natural rights of man, arguing that the British had repeatedly violated these rights. This gave them the right to break away from Great Britain and form their own government, one founded on the principles set out in the Declaration.

Why is signing the Declaration of Independence important to world history?

The signing of the Declaration of Independence is important to the history of the world for a few reasons. One reason is that the document lays out some very basic ideas about the rights of people and what government should be doing with those rights. The Declaration of Independence said that all people have certain rights. They are the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights can’t be taken away or given up. The job of government is to protect these rights. When government fails to protect the rights of the people, the people must change the government.

Another reason why the Declaration of Independence is important is because it has been used as a model in other people’s fight for freedom. When Americans in Texas declared independence from Mexico, they created a Texan Declaration of Independence that is very similar to ours. When the French people revolted, they also used ideas from our document in their quest for a new government. Many countries that have become independent have used the ideas in our Declaration of Independence in their own Declarations of Independence. This was true in India, in Latin American countries, and in Israel. Therefore, this was a very important document in world history.

Why did the Declaration of Independence spark the American Revolution?

The Revolutionary War began in April of 1775.  The Declaration of Independence was not written until July of 1776.  The first year of the Revolutionary War was full of defeats.  The Continental Army was made up of many local militias, and a majority of the men were ill prepared for war.  They often did not have enough clothing, provisions, or weapons.  On the other hand, the British Army was well trained and had many more resources.

Prior to the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Army's approach had had a primarily defensive purpose.  Many still hoped that King George III would remove troops from the Thirteen Colonies and that they could be reconciled with Britain.  The Declaration of Independence, however, declared that the Thirteen Colonies be free and independent.  This gave more of a purpose and a direction for the war.  It encouraged the generals, soldiers, and patriot colonists.  They were fighting for something specific, which was complete freedom from Britain.  The Declaration of Independence was a spark which ignited the fires of perseverance and hope for the future for the rest of the war.