Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, over a year after the start of the Revolutionary War in April 1775, following the Second Continental Congress's steps to establish the colonies as free and independent states.
Step-by-step explanation:
Period Between the Revolutionary War and Declaration of Independence
The colonists declared their independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776, a little over a year after the first battles of the Revolutionary War were fought at Lexington and Concord in April 1775. This historic decision came after the Second Continental Congress met in May 1775, at a time when the war had already begun and colonial resistance solidified. Despite the power and governance of Great Britain, the colonists moved decidedly toward declaring themselves a separate nation. Independence was officially declared and the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.
This document was influenced by Enlightenment philosophies, including those of John Locke, and reflected the strong desire of the colonies to establish themselves as free and independent states. As they distanced themselves from British rule, they faced the challenges of creating new state governments that would uphold the ideals of freedom and order they fought for during the Revolution.
The colonists declared their independence from British rule approximately 1 year and 2 months after the Revolutionary War began. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, marking the birth of a new nation.