July 4 will be the 243rd anniversary of The Declaration of Independence!
How did you learn about our nation’s birth?
I feel like I’ve always known. History was an important part of my life even when I was a very young child. I probably knew more about American history than I did the time I was actually living in.
I’m sure part of that is due to my parents’ interest in historical fiction books and tv shows. Those were some of my earliest influences.
In addition, America’s Bicentennial celebration was the first event of national importance I remember.
The Story of the Declaration of Independence (Cornerstones of Freedom series) by Norman Richards (1968), see photo above, was one of my childhood books. I don’t remember when I received it, but I’d guess it would’ve been about the time of the Bicentennial.
I re-read my copy recently, and I appreciated how it told the story of our country’s birth in an informative and interesting way and reminded me of events I had forgotten.
Have you ever been to the National Archives to see The Declaration, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights? If you get the chance, go! It’s inspiring!
How will you celebrate Independence Day? Parades, picnics, fireworks? Those are great ways to celebrate! I like to watch patriotic movies, too. National Treasure, anyone? A few years ago, my family had the opportunity to see the musical 1776 performed on July 4 in Colonial Williamsburg! That was a treat!
This year I’m trying something new—I plan to memorize the opening lines of The Declaration.
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 requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
The Declaration of Independence
This is from the parchment version of The Declaration signed in August 1776. However, the draft the Continental Congress approved in July 1776 does not contain the phrase “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.”
What kids’ books–fiction or non-fiction–about The Declaration or Independence Day would you recommend?