Who introduced the idea that the colonies should declare themselves free and independent states? Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Who advised Jefferson as he was writing the Declaration? What does the first section of the Declaration contain? What does the second section contain? What actions has King George taken against the American people? What happens in the concluding paragraph? What would happen if the signers were brought before a royal court? When did the colonial representatives approve the document?

Thomas Paine was the one who introduced the idea that colonies should declare independence. In January 1776, he published Common Sense, which was a political pamphlet that convincingly argued for Americans to fight for independence. The Declaration of Independence was mostly written by Thomas Jefferson. To do so, he was greatly influenced by the political philosophy of John Locke, who introduced the idea of the natural rights, and from the work of other English theorists. Jefferson was advised by the committee, which included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. In the spring of 1776, the thought of independence swept the colonies and they showed their support for it, the Continental Congress called for states to form their own governments and a five-man committee (composed by the ones mentioned above) was formed to draft the Declaration. The first section of the Declaration contains the Preamble. The Preamble explains that if a group of people want to abolish their goverment, they have to tell the world about the situation. The second section of the Declaration of Independence explains the rights that all men have, which are called natural or unalienable rights: these include the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. King George has committed 27 grievances against the American people that are listed in the third part of the Declaration. Here is an example of a grievance retrieved from the Declaration: "He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within." In the concluding paragraph, American people declare themselves free of the King George rule: "in the name, and by authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be fee and independent states ... " If the signers were brought before a royal court, they would've been found guilty of treason. Prisoners used to be executed in full view of the British troops. The Second Continental Congress (the convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting in the spring of 1775) ratified the Declaration of Independence during a meeting at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall) on July 4, 1776.

1. Richard Henry Lee

2. Thomas Jefferson

3. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams

4. The ideas that the Founders believed in

5. A list of grievances the colonies had against Great Britain and the King

6. He has "plundered our seas, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people."

7. The colonies officially dissolve ties with Great Britain.

8. They would be found guilty of treason and would hang in the gallows.

9. July 4, 1776.