This presentation will explore the long-term impact of the American colonists’ decision to declare independence from the British king in 1776. The U.S. Declaration of Independence, along with political commentaries that shaped it, will be examined. A focus on why the colonists declared independence, and how those viewpoints have shaped historical and contemporary political debates, will also be discussed. The session will conclude with a focus on ways that issues described in the U.S. Declaration of Independence have impacted international affairs.