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Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11
and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence
is at once the nation's most cherished symbol
of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument.
Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson
expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts
of the American people. The political philosophy
of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of
individual liberty had already been expressed
by John Locke and the Continental philosophers.
What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy
in "self-evident truths" and set forth
a list of grievances against the King in order
to justify before the world the breaking of ties
between the colonies and the mother country. We
invite you to read
a transcription of the complete text of the
Declaration. |
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The article "The
Declaration of Independence: A History,"
provides a detailed account of the Declaration,
from its drafting through its preservation
today at the National Archives.
"The
Stylistic Artistry of the Declaration of
Independence" by Stephen
Lucas. By closely examining its language,
this perceptive article sheds light on the
Declaration as a work of literature and
of persuasion. From Prologue, Spring 1990.
The Virginia
Declaration of Rights strongly influenced Thomas Jefferson in writing
the first part of the Declaration of Independence. It later provided the foundation
for the Bill of Rights.
Learn about Our
National Treasure, interesting and informative facts about the Declaration
and its history. |
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Learn more about the Writing
and Publicizing of the Declaration of Independence,
the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution
of the United States by visiting the
Independence National Historical Park (Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania) web site.
View documents from the Continental
Congress and the Constitutional Convention,
part of the Library of Congress' American
Memory web site. This site also provides
related manuscript, printed, and iconographic
materials. |
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