CONTENT WARNING
Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.
Context
The Revolutionary War erupted with battles at Lexington and Concord and at Bunker Hill in 1775, but throughout the following year many colonists continued to believe reconciliation with Great Britain was possible. Some members of the Continental Congress held out hope for a peaceful reunion, but it became increasingly clear that this was no longer possible. When Parliament prohibited all trade with the American colonies in December 1775, Congress reacted by setting the stage for a formal break from Britain. First, members started discussing alliances with foreign powers and began drafting what would eventually become a 1778 treaty between America and France. Then, in April 1776, they declared American ports open for business. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, introduced a resolution before the Continental Congress declaring the colonies free and independent of Great Britain.
Congress postponed debate on Lee's resolution to allow delegates who were under instructions not to consent to independence to seek new instructions from their colony's government. Congress appointed a committee to compose a declaration to explain the decision for independence. The committee members were John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert R. Livingston of New York, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. Jefferson composed the first draft of the declaration, to which Franklin and Adams made amendments. The draft declaration was reported to Congress on July 2, 1776. That day Congress approved Lee's resolution and voted to declare independence. On July 4, Congress ratified the text of the Declaration of Independence.
The preamble and introduction to the Declaration of Independence announces its purpose to explain Congress's rationale to the world. It invokes natural law and the right of revolution, based in part on a widely accepted philosophy of government contained in John Locke's Second Treatise of Government (1690) as well as the ideas of other Enlightenment writers. As stated in the Declaration, government existed to protect men's natural rights and liberties, including the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." If government failed to protect or otherwise endangered those rights, the people have the right to abolish or change their government. Much of the Declaration's text details the acts of King George III that jeopardized Americans' rights and therefore justified the move to break their political connection with the king and his nation. The Declaration concludes with the words of the resolution adopted on July 2, and the delegates' pledge to one another and to the American people their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to secure and preserve independence.
This facsimile of the Declaration of Independence was certified by United States Secretary of State John Hay in 1902. It was produced for the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association as a fundraiser for the erection of a memorial to Jefferson in Washington, D.C.
Citation: Officially certified facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, New York: Holland Studio, 1902, Broadside 1902 .U58 F, Special Collections, Library of Virginia (available online in the Library's Digital Discovery Collections).
Congress postponed debate on Lee's resolution to allow delegates who were under instructions not to consent to independence to seek new instructions from their colony's government. Congress appointed a committee to compose a declaration to explain the decision for independence. The committee members were John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Robert R. Livingston of New York, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. Jefferson composed the first draft of the declaration, to which Franklin and Adams made amendments. The draft declaration was reported to Congress on July 2, 1776. That day Congress approved Lee's resolution and voted to declare independence. On July 4, Congress ratified the text of the Declaration of Independence.
The preamble and introduction to the Declaration of Independence announces its purpose to explain Congress's rationale to the world. It invokes natural law and the right of revolution, based in part on a widely accepted philosophy of government contained in John Locke's Second Treatise of Government (1690) as well as the ideas of other Enlightenment writers. As stated in the Declaration, government existed to protect men's natural rights and liberties, including the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." If government failed to protect or otherwise endangered those rights, the people have the right to abolish or change their government. Much of the Declaration's text details the acts of King George III that jeopardized Americans' rights and therefore justified the move to break their political connection with the king and his nation. The Declaration concludes with the words of the resolution adopted on July 2, and the delegates' pledge to one another and to the American people their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to secure and preserve independence.
This facsimile of the Declaration of Independence was certified by United States Secretary of State John Hay in 1902. It was produced for the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Association as a fundraiser for the erection of a memorial to Jefferson in Washington, D.C.
Citation: Officially certified facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, New York: Holland Studio, 1902, Broadside 1902 .U58 F, Special Collections, Library of Virginia (available online in the Library's Digital Discovery Collections).
Standards
VS.1, VS.5, USI.1, USI.6, VUS.1, VUS.4, GOVT.2
Suggested Questions
Preview Activities
Scan It: What words stand out to you, and why? How would you describe these words that stand out?
Take a Look: Look at the imagery surrounding this reproduction of the Declaration. Then google and find the actual state crests. What do you think of the changes the artist made to the crests? Why do you think the artist chose to alter some of the crests and not others? What do you think of the artist’s choices, and why?
Post-Activities
Analyze: Read the document and consider: What can the Declaration of Independence tell us about the lives, decisions, philosophies, and political ideas that led to self-government? What are the main grievances listed in the document, and for how long had Americans been petitioning the British government about these grievances before war broke out?
Dig Deeper: Compare the Declaration of Independence to the Preamble of the first Virginia Constitution written in 1776, online in Document Bank. In what ways are they similar? Where are the differences? Why do you think those differences exist?
Up for Debate: Imagine you are a Loyalist. How would you react to reading this document, and why? What concerns would you have for the future? How do you think a pro-Independence advocate might argue in favor of the Declaration, and do you think it would change your mind? Why or why not?
Current Connections: How are Americans today affected by what happened in 1776? What does the Declaration of Independence symbolize to present-day Americans?
Scan It: What words stand out to you, and why? How would you describe these words that stand out?
Take a Look: Look at the imagery surrounding this reproduction of the Declaration. Then google and find the actual state crests. What do you think of the changes the artist made to the crests? Why do you think the artist chose to alter some of the crests and not others? What do you think of the artist’s choices, and why?
Post-Activities
Analyze: Read the document and consider: What can the Declaration of Independence tell us about the lives, decisions, philosophies, and political ideas that led to self-government? What are the main grievances listed in the document, and for how long had Americans been petitioning the British government about these grievances before war broke out?
Dig Deeper: Compare the Declaration of Independence to the Preamble of the first Virginia Constitution written in 1776, online in Document Bank. In what ways are they similar? Where are the differences? Why do you think those differences exist?
Up for Debate: Imagine you are a Loyalist. How would you react to reading this document, and why? What concerns would you have for the future? How do you think a pro-Independence advocate might argue in favor of the Declaration, and do you think it would change your mind? Why or why not?
Current Connections: How are Americans today affected by what happened in 1776? What does the Declaration of Independence symbolize to present-day Americans?