The Declaration of Independence, made on July 4, 1776, has changed how democracies work today in many important ways:

1. Basic Ideas:

   • It shared important thoughts like individual rights, equality, and government by the people. These ideas are key to democratic societies.
   • It says that “all men are created equal,” which has inspired many civil rights movements around the world.

2. Inspiration for Other Countries:

   • The Declaration encouraged revolutions, like the French Revolution in 1789, and democratic movements in places like Latin America and Asia.
   • About 80 countries look to the Declaration as a key document for their own independence statements or constitutions.

3. Today’s Democratic System:

   • It introduced the idea that a government must get its power from the people. This is a basic belief in modern democracies.
   • The Declaration also mentions that people can “change or get rid of” a government that isn’t helping them, which has been mentioned in many political changes since then.

4. Continued Importance:

   • The ideas in the Declaration can be found in international human rights papers, like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948.

In summary, the Declaration of Independence remains an important symbol of freedom and democracy around the world.