Declaration of Independence

The unanimous formal Declaration of the thirteen united States of America declaring their freedom from Great Britain, dated July 4, 1776.  Note: The word “united” in the above definition is not capitalized.  That is not a typo.  The word “united” is not capitalized in the text of the Declaration of Independence because the union of States was not a country yet, and the attitude of the time was that the new country was not a nation, but a voluntary union of States.  From the founding, and throughout the antebellum period, the United States was considered to be “The United States are” (plural).  After the War Between the States (American Civil War) the designation changed to “The United States is.”  In other words, prior to the Civil War, the emphasis was placed on the autonomy and sovereignty of the States, not the central power of the federal government or the country as a singular nation.