Editing American Revolutionary War (section)

===Declaration of Independence===
{{Main|United States Declaration of Independence}}

Support for independence was boosted by [[Thomas Paine]]'s pamphlet ''[[Common Sense (pamphlet)|Common Sense]]'', which was published on January 10, 1776, and argued for American self-government and was widely reprinted.<ref name="maier33-34">[[#maier1998|Maier 1998]], pp. 33–34</ref> To draft the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], the [[Second Continental Congress]] appointed the [[Committee of Five]]: [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[John Adams]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Roger Sherman]], and [[Robert Livingston (chancellor)|Robert Livingston]].<ref name="mccullough119">[[#mccullough2005|McCullough 2005]], pp. 119–122</ref> The declaration was written almost exclusively by Jefferson.<ref>[https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/independence-dechousehistory.htm "The Declaration House Through Time"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326034059/https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/independence-dechousehistory.htm |date=March 26, 2023 }}, National Park Services</ref>

Identifying inhabitants of the Thirteen Colonies as "one people", the declaration simultaneously dissolved political links with Britain, while including a long list of alleged violations of "English rights" committed by [[George III]]. This is also one of the first times that the colonies were referred to as "United States", rather than the more common [[United Colonies]].<ref name="ferling112">[[#ferling2007|Ferling 2007]], pp. 112, 118</ref>

On July 2, Congress voted for independence and published the declaration on July 4.<ref name="R0xyC">[[#maier1998|Maier 1998]], pp. 160–161</ref> At this point, the revolution ceased to be an internal dispute over trade and tax policies and had evolved into a civil war, since each state represented in Congress was engaged in a struggle with Britain, but also split between American Patriots and American Loyalists.<ref name="IE7Bq">[[#mays2019|Mays 2019]], p. 2</ref> Patriots generally supported independence from Britain and a new national union in Congress, while Loyalists remained faithful to British rule. Estimates of numbers vary, one suggestion being the population as a whole was split evenly between committed Patriots, committed Loyalists, and those who were indifferent.<ref name="DEcPu">[[#mays2019|Mays 2019]], p. 3</ref> Others calculate the split as 40% Patriot, 40% neutral, 20% Loyalist, but with considerable regional variations.<ref name="Greene p. 235">[[#jgreene2008|Greene & Pole 2008]], p. 235</ref>

At the onset of the war, the Second Continental Congress realized defeating Britain required foreign alliances and intelligence-gathering. The [[Committee of Secret Correspondence]] was formed for "the sole purpose of corresponding with our friends in Great Britain and other parts of the world". From 1775 to 1776, the committee shared information and built alliances through secret correspondence, as well as employing secret agents in Europe to gather intelligence, conduct undercover operations, analyze foreign publications, and initiate Patriot propaganda campaigns.<ref name="cia2007">[[#amintelrev|CIA 2007]], "Intelligence Until WWII"</ref> Paine served as secretary, while Benjamin Franklin and [[Silas Deane]], sent to France to recruit military engineers,<ref>[[#clary2007|Clary, 2007]], pp. 86–87</ref> were instrumental in securing French aid in Paris.<ref name="rose43">[[#alexrose|Rose A. 2014]]&nbsp;[2006], p. 43</ref>