America’s Declaration and Paradox of Unalienable Rights

This summer, the United States is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is often described as the 250th birthday of the US. It is not. To be sure, on 4 July 1776, 56 members of the Continental Congress – representing the 13 colonies – ratified the Declaration of Independence. But this was an assertion of independence, not its accomplishment. Recognised sovereign independence of the United States of America would not occur until nearly eight war-torn years later, when the Treaty of Paris was ratified by the Confederation Congress on 15 January 1784.