that the 13 original colonies of America
were “free and independent states.” It
was the last of a series of steps that led
Dead trees are scattered among sand dunes
in Death Valley.
North America’s
highest
known
temperature—
134° F
(57° C)—was
recorded in
Death Valley
in 1913.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Declaration of Independence 23
the colonies to final separation from
Great Britain.
At the time the American Revolution
began with Great Britain in April 1775
most colonists were not seeking independence.
They simply wanted the British
government to listen to their
complaints. But as the war continued,
many colonists began to favor freedom
from British rule.
New reasons for independence from
Great Britain appeared regularly. In
August 1775 King George III declared
that the colonists were rebels and hired
foreign troops to fight them. The British
attacked the coast of Maine and did
great damage in Virginia. In January
1776 Thomas Paine published the pamphlet
Common Sense. It pointed out how
the colonists were being mistreated by
the king. Many copies of the pamphlet
were sold, and support for independence
grew.
On June 7 Richard Henry Lee, a
Virginian, asked the Continental
Congress to consider declaring
independence from Great Britain. The
congress appointed a committee of five
to write the formal declaration. Thomas
Jefferson wrote the first draft. A few
changes were suggested by other
members of the committee: John
Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger
Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.
On July 2, 1776, the congress accepted
the idea of independence. It then
debated the content of the declaration
over the next two days. On July 4 the
Declaration of Independence was
accepted by the representatives of 12
states. The New York delegation
accepted it 11 days later. It was first
published in newspapers and read aloud
to crowds in towns throughout the colonies.
Members of the congress signed the
official parchment document on August
2. The document first lists the complaints
against the English king and then
makes the actual declaration.
#More to explore
American Revolution • Continental
Congress • Jefferson, Thomas
Decorative Arts
Decorative art is the art of making
useful things beautiful. The decorative
Many important people in the early history
of the United States signed the Declaration
of Independence. Famous signers include
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and
Samuel Adams.
24 Decorative Arts BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
arts include pottery making, jewelry
making, weaving, woodworking, and
other crafts. Different cultures around
the world have their own forms of
decorative art.
For most of history people made decorative
art by hand. In North America,
Native Americans made painted pottery
and delicate baskets. In the American
colonies Paul Revere was well known for
creating beautiful silver objects. He
made silver utensils, bowls, plates, and
candleholders.
In Europe and early America a young
woman’s education usually included
decorative arts. Girls learned these skills
both at school and at home. They
learned embroidery and quilt design.
They painted flowers and landscapes on
tabletops and other household objects.
In the 1800s people began using
machines to make decorative art. Factories
made pottery, furniture, lamps, and
rugs from designs created by artists. The
factories turned out thousands of decorative
objects from each design.
Arts and Crafts Movement
However, some decorative artists still
wanted to create one-of-a kind objects.
Many of these artists joined a movement
called the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Arts and Crafts artists made stained glass
windows and lamps by hand. They also
made furniture and other kinds of beautiful,
useful objects.
Later Developments
In the early 1900s a famous school for
design opened in Germany. This school
was called the Bauhaus. Artists there
designed furniture and other objects for
the home. They wanted everyday objects
to be both useful and artistic. Bauhaus
artists believed that the good design of
useful things, such as forks and teapots,
could improve people’s lives.
People in Mexico weave blankets in colorful,
traditional patterns. This type of blanket
is both useful and decorative.
Glassmaking is a type of decorative art. The
U.S. designer Louis Comfort Tiffany made
many beautiful glass vases.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Decorative Arts 25
Decorative art is still very popular today.
Many weavers, jewelers, woodworkers,
potters, and other decorative artists sell
their work at art shows, in art galleries,
or in shops. Many people who are not
artists also enjoy making decorative
objects. They learn how to create decorative
art from books, magazines, and
home decorating shows on television.
Some people also take classes or attend
special workshops.
#More to explore
Arts • Jewelry and Gems • Pottery
• Revere, Paul
Deer
Deer are the only animals that can grow
large antlers. They are hoofed mammals
that belong to the scientific family
Cervidae. There are about 30 different
species, or kinds, of deer. Among them
are the white-tailed deer, the mule deer,
the moose, the wapiti, and the reindeer,
or caribou.
