IN CONGRES S, 4, 1776. A DECLARATION THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN GENERAL CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. E in the Couffe of human Events, it becomes neceffary for one People to diffolve the Political Bands which have conneûed them with another, and to affume among the Powers of the Earth, the _ feparate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle Summary The blog post offers a free, newly formatted PDF of the US Declaration of Independence, emphasizing its accessibility, preservation, and educational value. It highlights the convenience of having a digital copy for easy access and study while providing clear instructions on how to download and open the file. Readers are encouraged to download the latest version directly from the Note: This is a transcription of the stone engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence. The spelling and punctuation in this document reflect the original. An electronic copy of this text can be accessed via the National Archives website. abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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. Text of the Declaration of Independence Note: The source for this transcription is the first printing of the Declaration of Independence, the broadside produced by John Dunlap on the night of July 4, 1776. These three documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, have secured the rights of the American people for more than two and a quarter centuries and are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States. Declaration of Independence Learn More The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America 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 SUMMARY On July 4, 1776, the United States officially declared its independence from the British Empire when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was authored by a “Committee of Five”—John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman—with Jefferson as the main drafter. But Jefferson himself later I have, in this copy, fol-lowed the arrangement of paragraphs adopted in the publication of the Declaration in the newspaper of John Dunlap, and as printed by him for the Congress, which printed copy is inserted in the original Journal of the old Congress. Declaration of Independence Official signed copy of the Declaration of Independence, August 2, 1776; Miscellaneous Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, Record Group 360; National Archives. The Declaration of Independence (back) When we removed the Declaration of Independence from the Rotunda in 2001 to prepare it for a new case, we were able to look at the reverse side. No treasure map was found, but there were two lines of text, "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th. July 1776" written along the bottom edge. America's Founding Documents High Resolution Downloads These images are in the public domain and no permission is required to use them. Please credit the National Archives as the original source. The Declaration of Independence The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America 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 The Declaration of Independence On 15 May 1776 Virginia instructed its delegates in Congress to move that the col-onies declare themselves “free and independent states. . . .” In Congress, on 7 June, Rich-ard Henry Lee moved a three-part resolution: that “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states,” that they should take measures to form foreign On July 2, 1776, after months of deliberation and while directing battle in the colonies and Canada, the Second Continental Congress voted to declare the “united States of America” separate and independent from Britain. On July 4, the Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson. Copies were immediately printed and distributed throughout the Declaration of Independence, 17761 IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, 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 Declaration of Independence: A Transcription Print This Page 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. States, was adopted. A declaration to that effect was, on the same and the following days, taken into further consideration. Finally, on the 4th of July, the Declaration of Independence 1 1 was agreed to, engrossed on paper, signed by John Hancock as president, and directed to be sent to the several assemblies, I have, in this copy, fol-lowed the arrangement of paragraphs adopted in the publication of the Declaration in the newspaper of John Dunlap, and as printed by him for the Congress, which printed copy is inserted in the original Journal of the old Congress.
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