The words contained in the Declaration of Independence were some of the most revolutionary and radical ideas ever printed when the document was published in 1776. More importantly, they have been some of the most influential words in the history of the world and have helped to shape many nations. Declaration of Independence: A Transcription Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original. The Declaration of Independence The Want, Will, and Hopes of the People Declaration text | Rough Draft | Congress's Draft | Compare | Dunlap Broadside | Image | Scan The Declaration of Independence, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, is not merely a historical document; it’s a profound expression of human rights, freedom, and the principles upon which the United States was founded. Read the Declaration of Independence. Learn About the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and Fun Facts. Test your Knowledge with our Declaration of Independence Quiz. Declaration of Independence Activities and Lesson Plans for Educators. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (Adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776) The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America July 4, 1776 -- When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requir Read the transcript of the Declaration of Independence, as adopted in Congress on July 4, 1776. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the rough draft. The full words of the Declaration of Independence text are detailed below. The Declaration of Independence began with a statement of individual rights and then listed the acts of tyranny by King George III of Britain, justifying independence from the sovereign state. In other words, the fundamental freedoms of the American people were alluded to in the Declaration of Independence, implicit in the Constitution, and enumerated in the Bill of Rights. The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which our government, and our identity as Americans, are based. Unlike the other founding documents, the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, but it is powerful. Español We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted on the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson to assert the rights of the 13 colonies against the King of England. The document was officially adopted on July 4, 1776. The word Parliament appeared twice in Thomas Jefferson’s original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, but was cut from the final text; for example, “we utterly dissolve & break off all political connection which may have heretofore subsisted between us & the people or parliament of Great Britain.” The definition of the Declaration of Independence for APUSH is a foundational document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it announced the independence of the 13 Original Colonies from British rule. He described the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as "these fragile objects which bear so great a weight of meaning to our people." The story of the Declaration of Independence as a document can only be a part of the larger history, a history still unfolding, a "weight of meaning" constantly, challenged, strengthened, and redefined. Nearly every printed or manuscript edition of the Declaration of Independence has slight differences in punctuation, capitalization, and even wording. To find out more about the diverse textual tradition of the Declaration, check out our Which Version is This, and Why Does it Matter? resource. The Declaration of Independence was designed for multiple audiences: the King, the colonists, and the world. It was also designed to multitask. Its goals were to rally the troops, win foreign allies, and to announce the creation of a new country. The introductory sentence states the Declaration’s main purpose, to explain the colonists’ right to revolution. In other words, “to declare the The American Revolution —also called the U.S. War of Independence—was the insurrection fought between 1775 and 1783 through which 13 of Great Britain ’s North American colonies threw off British rule to establish the sovereign United States of America, founded with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. British attempts to assert greater control over colonial affairs after a long A mini-exhibition looking at how the Declaration of Independence has impacted democracy and human rights around the world.
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