The Beginning - July 4, 1776 - The Declaration of Independence

from the National Archives & Record Administration -

"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."

read the Declaration of Independence>>