The Nature of Things

An image of the document itself. And here is the text that gave our country birth and has inspired others around the world. I N CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. 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 Governme...

The Declaration of Independence - in transcription.                                               ~ IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. 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, derivi...

After witnessing the British Royal Navy's bombardment of Fort McHenry in Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812, a lawyer and amateur poet named Francis Scott Key was inspired to write a poem called "Defence of Fort McHenry." The poem was actually written in 1814 and was later set to the music of a popular British song from a men's social club in London. The song was called "To Anacreon in Heaven." That popular tune was employed in the service of many lyrics over the years, but once used for Key's poem, it was renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and was eventually made the national anthem by congressional resolution on March 3, 1931. From time to time, you hear people grousing that this song is just too hard to sing and that the anthem should be changed to something easier like "America the Beautiful," but I hope that never happens. I quite like "The Star-Spangled Banner" with its history and its message of patriotism. Most pe...

How did it happen that we came to celebrate July 4 as our nation's Independence Day? The Second Continental Congress actually voted to approve a resolution of independence on July 2, 1776. After making the decision to separate themselves from England, the Congress then set about writing a declaration to set out their reasons for taking this action. They debated and revised the wording of the document for a couple of days, finally agreeing to the wording that has come down to us on July 4. But it seems that the more important date would have been the date that they actually decided on independence, July 2. John Adams certainly thought that was the important date. He wrote his wife Abigail: The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. ...