History of Wars Summary 5 - American Revolutionary War 3: Declaration of Independence and the Expansion of War

As the war between the colonies and Britain continued in 1776, calls for independence grew louder. On July 4th, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and others, proclaiming the independence of the 13 colonies from Britain. The Declaration emphasized the equality of all men and their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and laid out the principle that people have the right to change a government that infringes upon these rights. However, the announcement of the Declaration of Independence did not end the war. Instead, Britain deployed large forces to reclaim the colonies. The Continental Army, led by Washington, faced difficulties in battles like the Battle of New York and suffered from shortages of troops and supplies. Nevertheless, Washington maintained his forces and continued a long war, while resistance against Britain persisted in various parts of the colonies. Having declared independence, the United States now faced the challenge of securing actual independence through war.