Free
Britain, which includes England, was far away. Even so, people in the colonies had to follow Britain’s laws. Many people thought some laws were not fair. The leaders of the colonies wanted freedom.
The Declaration of Independence told the British king why Americans wanted to be free. On July 4, 1776, many colonial leaders signed the Declaration of Independence. Some were Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.
Americans had to fight for their freedom. They fought a long war with Britain. And they won.
The colonies became states. The states joined together as one country, the United States of America.
The leaders knew they needed rules for the country. Everyone agreed that liberty was important. But they didn’t agree on everything else. The leaders talked for four months. ▶
◀ At last, the leaders agreed. James Madison wrote a draft of the Constitution. The Constitution is a set of rules for our country. It includes the ideas of many people.
Learn More!
Learning About Freedom
You can learn about the birth of our country from things that were made at that time. Papers and works of art show the ideas and feelings people had.
What does this drawing tell you about our country long ago? ▶
A drawing of the city of Philadelphia, 1776
A painting of John Adams, 1800s
A page from John Adams’s journal, 1776
▲ What can you learn by reading someone’s journal?
