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Independence Day cheer

Happy Independence Day to all.

As we in America celebrate the 4th of July, the date commemorating the approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776, I thought it would be instructive to take a look at the famed document itself, and the history behind it.

For those who would like to learn more about the signing of the Declaration of Independence, see the Wikipedia link above.

You may also want to read and compare the document's various drafts (first draft, reported draft, engrossed copy) which can all be viewed here at the Online Library of Liberty.

And lastly, some valuable thoughts on the Declaration and its principal writer, Thomas Jefferson. We should also mention Thomas Paine, whose pamphlet, Common Sense, became the widely read rallying cry for American independence from Great Britain.

For more on this, please see the following articles.

"Jefferson on American Liberty" - Gary Galles.

"Thomas Jefferson, Rebel!" - Frank Chodorov.

"The Sudden Emergence of Tom Paine" - Murray Rothbard.

"The Declaration of Independence" (Audio MP3) - Robert LeFevre.

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