It serves as an indictment of the actions of King George III and enumerates the grievances of the colonists. What the document does is lay out in terms so clear that they could be understood by those within the country and around the world why the colonists were seeking independence and their vision for this new nation. The document would be debated and edited by the Continental Congress and once the resolution on independence was adopted on July 2nd, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Thomas Jefferson was tasked with writing the proposed declaration and did so in just over two weeks. With vigorous debate following, it was determined that there was a necessity for a document that explained the case for independence.Ī Committee of Five was formed to create this document, made up of Thomas Jefferson (Virginia), Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania), John Adams (Massachusetts), Robert Livingston (New York), and Roger Sherman (Connecticut.) In June 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented a three part resolution to Congress on behalf of the Virginia Convention. Though some colonial leaders hoped for reconciliation with Great Britain, public support for a formal separation continued to grow into 1776.Įven with troops fighting in the field and the public calling for separation, Congress did not have clear authority to declare independence. It’s important to remember that before the Declaration of Independence was written, American colonists were already engaged in war with British troops. While we often joke that it is the world’s most famous break-up letter, the document served an important role in the fight for Independence and continues to inspire us today. It is one of the most visited documents in the world.Įven with its name recognition, it can be hard to understand what exactly we are declaring and why the document has such significance today. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in the history of the United States. These tickets come with a $1.50 processing fee, but that’s not much to ask to avoid a long wait. ![]() If you want to avoid the wait, you can get timed tickets which will allow you to skip most of the line. ![]() On busy days, it can take up to an hour just to get into the building! The official copy of the Declaration of Independence signed by the delegates to the Continental Congress on Augis on display at the National Archives.Īlthough there is no admission price for the National Archives, it can get pretty busy between the months of March and June or on holiday weekends. There is only one copy of the engrossed and signed document. ![]() The original printing only contained the names of John Hancock and Secretary Charles Thomson. There were many copies of the document in the late 1700s and today there are only 26 remaining copies from the original printing worldwide today. There are debates and rumors that the real Declaration of Independence might be somewhere in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is known as the birthplace of America and it’s where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. Is the real Declaration of Indepence in Philadelphia?
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