The Declaration of Independence of the United States was signed by representatives of thirteen British colonies in North America, by which they declared themselves an independent state, the United States. The Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, declared the colonies independent on July 2, 1776, and adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
The Declaration of Independence is considered the highlight of the American Revolution, and in the United States as an almost mythical nation-building event. The list of human rights at the beginning of the Declaration later inspired many other liberal revolutions and human rights declarations. Particularly famous is the second sentence of the Declaration, according to which all men are created equal and have the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
