It was written by Thomas Jefferson. It set forth:

1. That all men are created equal.

2. The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 3. The right to govern ourselves.

SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

From a recent photograph of the original painting

It also told of the repeated injuries and tyranny of the English king as our reasons for seeking independence.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to its support.

To-day we owe the same support to the great cause of liberty, justice, and right.

The Declaration of Independence was signed in the state house at Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, by John Hancock, the President of Congress, and by the other members.

It is one of the greatest documents ever written. To it we owe our freedom.

Thus did the United Colonies become the United States of America. Thus did our nation have its beginning. July 4 is called Independence Day.1

It is the birthday of our freedom, and is celebrated each year in every city and town in the United States.

Questions and Topics for Discussion.

Why did the colonies declare their freedom from England?
When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

By whom was it written? By whom was it signed?

Where was it signed? What rights did it set forth?

What did the signers of the Declaration of Independence pledge to

its support?

What should we pledge for these same rights?

Why is July 4 called Independence Day?

Where is it celebrated?

Write the story of the Declaration of Independence.

LESSON XIV

END OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

By the Declaration of Independence the colonists had declared themselves independent of England. But this was not enough. They had to prove their independence. This could be done only by conquering the enemy. The British now made an attack on New York. After bitter fighting they succeeded in driving the Americans out of the city. Washington and his men retreated foot by foot across New Jersey.

1 For the Declaration of Independence, see pages 425–428.

They crossed the Delaware River, taking all the boats with them, thus making sure that the English could not follow.

This was a very trying time for the Americans.

The soldiers were ragged, their families were hungry. The paper money issued by Congress had very little value. The American cause looked dark indeed.

WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE

Christmas came. On Christmas night Washington and his men went back over the Delaware River which was full of ice.

They fell upon the surprised Hessians who were feasting at Trenton, and took over a thousand prisoners.

This unexpected victory brought back the courage and hope of the Americans.

Washington obtained money from Robert Morris, a friend in Philadelphia. This was used to pay the soldiers

and to buy supplies. It saved the army at a very critical time.

The American cause began to look brighter.

Soon after this, Washington won another victory at Princeton.

This was also in the nature of a surprise to the British. Washington, who had gone to Philadelphia with the prisoners captured at Trenton, had crossed the Delaware River again.

The British commander thought he had caught Washington with his back to the river. It would be impossible to recross in the presence of the British army.

"At last we have run down the old fox," said the British commander. "We will bag him in the morning."

But instead of this Washington, leaving the campfires burning to deceive the British, marched around their lines into Princeton.

In the morning the British faced an empty camp.

The booming of cannon in the direction of Princeton told the British commander the game the "old fox" had played. This second victory added to the cheer of the Americans. For a time there was little fighting. But during the next year the British met and defeated Washington twice, finally taking possession of Philadelphia.

The Americans spent the following winter (1777-1778) at Valley Forge.

It was the darkest hour of the war. The suffering of the army was terrible.

Hundreds were without blankets and shoes, and food

was scarce.

Yet the work of drilling went on, aided greatly by Baron Steuben, a Prussian military man, who had come to this country to help America gain her freedom.

In the meantime a British expedition had started to march down from Canada, attacking the American forces as they came. This met with complete failure and the Americans captured six thousand

CONTINENTAL

SOLDIER

men.

This victory was a bad blow to the British, for it upset their other plans. It was really a turning point in the War for Independence.

The next year, 1778, Benjamin Franklin received a promise from the king of France to send money, ships, and men to America.

France also acknowledged our independence.

The British now saw that they also had the French to deal with. They feared that they might not be able to escape from Philadelphia. So they left that city for New York joining the British forces there.

The British now tried to conquer the South. They wished to keep some of their former possessions, if possible.

For a time they were successful, gaining possession of Georgia and South Carolina.

But the British general was forced into Yorktown, Virginia.