Article of the Declaration of Independence PDF

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Article of the Declaration of Independence
US History Dual Credit 11th edition Give Me Liberty
Mrs. Cundari as the teacher...

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This year marks the 243st (201) anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was the last element in a series of events that led up the Colonies declaring themselves free from Great Britain. The document was agreed to by the Continental Congress on July 2, 1776, but was officially printed and distributed among the colonies on the 4th of July. The 4th of July has really only been celebrated as a holiday since the 1870s when Congress passed a law making it a national holiday. Additional facts about the document from the National Archives in Washington DC, include: 

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The Declaration of Independence was adopted by 12 of 13 colonies (New York not voting) on July 4, 1776, but wasn't actually signed by all the delegates until August 2, 1776. A handprint appears on the bottom left corner of the Declaration of Independence. The origins and circumstances of the handprint are not known. The document was handled, rolled, and traveled about and exhibited extensively in its early life. Attempting to clean the handprint and other soil that has worked into the parchment could damage the fragile document. The Declaration of Independence is housed in a specially sealed encasement containing the inert gas argon with a controlled amount of humidity to keep the parchment flexible. The encasement is constructed of ballistic resistant materials. The document is closely guarded. In the Rotunda, above the Charters of Freedom, the murals by Barry Faulkner have been removed, cleaned, and restored. Although they don't depict actual historical events, they help convey the importance of the Charters of Freedom by showing a presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to John Hancock by Jefferson in 1776 and a presentation of the Constitution to George Washington by Madison in 1787. If you were a member of the Second Continental Congress in 1776, you were a rebel and considered a traitor by the King of England. You knew that a reward had been posted for the capture of certain prominent rebel leaders and signing your name to the Declaration meant that you pledged your life, your fortune, and your sacred honor to the cause of freedom. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and member of the Committee of Five died on July 4, 1826. And John Adams, also a committee member, died on the same day.

If you are ever in Washington DC, try to visit the National Archives and Records Administration. The Archives is home to not only the Declaration of Independence, but also the other founding documents of our nation. Happy 4th of July.

National Archives and Records Administration. Declaration of Independence Facts. The Declaration of Independence. Retrieved June 23, 2013 from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/treasure/declaration_facts.html...