American Declaration of Independence. Newspaper article detailing the text of the Declaration of Independence, principally drafted by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). The Declaration, announced on 4th July 1776, stated the separation of the 13 North American British colonies from the British crown. It followed a year of open battle between the Americans and the British, fighting that continued until 1783 (American Revolution or War of Independence). Jefferson went on to become the third president of the United States of America, from 1801-1809.