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Declaration of Independence: Quick Facts

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News •

Missouri State students will read Declaration of Independence aloud • Nov. 9, 2026, 4:47 AM ET (The Kansas City Star)
The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia now speaks Ukrainian • Oct. 27, 2026, 2:00 PM ET (VOA - Voice of America English News)
A free audio tour of the Ohio Air & Space Trail is now available • Oct. 16, 2026, 10:56 AM ET (Dayton Daily News)

Did You Know?

  • Many in Ireland supported the American colonists claims to independence after the Declarations publication despite the British Governments attempts to derogate from it.
  • For the first couple of decades after its publication, Americans considered the Declaration of Independence to have been written by the Continental Congress as a whole rather than largely by Thomas Jefferson.

Photos and Videos

John Trumbull: Declaration of Independence
Richard Henry Lee
Committee of Congress. Drafting the Declaration of Independence
Front view of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, showing its red brick facade, white clock tower, and steeple framed by bare tree branches.
Declaration of Independence
Portrait of Thomas Jefferson by Gilbert Stuart, showing Jefferson with white hair, a white ruffled shirt, and a dark coat against a neutral background.
Visitors stand in line to view the Declaration of Independence, displayed in a glass case between two large marble columns and flanked by American flags in Washington, D.C.
Infographic about Independence Day in the United States, featuring a timeline of key events from 1776 to 1960, notable figures like Thomas Jefferson and John Hancock, facts about the Declaration of Independence, and modern Fourth of July celebration traditions such as fireworks and patriotic music. Includes images of the Liberty Bell, U.S. flags, a gramophone, a bald eagle, and a turkey.
Intolerable Acts
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The word semiquincentennial appears in white text on a blue background.
How the Declaration of Independence was written
Image of the Declaration of Independence with the words "Preamble" on the left, "Grievances" on the right, and "Resolution" at the bottom, highlighting key sections of the document.
A lit sparkler is shown against a background of the American flag.
Learn how the Declaration of Independence was drafted, reviewed by the Continental Congress, and adopted
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