Primary Sources 4 What Is the Declaration of Independence 6 The Continental Congress 8 Declaring Independence 10 Other Sources 12 The Writers of the Document 14 Drafting the Document 16 Signing the Declaration of Independence 18 Certain Unalienable Rights 20 Tyranny Over These States 22 To Throw Off Such Government 24 Free and Independent States 26 July 4 1776 28 Glossary 30 For More Information 31 Index 32 CONTENTS
PRIMARY SOURCES A primary source is an artifact document or other source of information that was created at the time being studied Primary sources include speeches photographs newspapers letters paintings and even buildings Primary sources are very important to the study of history They provide a window into the past and give us a firsthand view of historical events The most accurate information about our history comes from studying primary sources A letter that John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson is an example of a primary document Adams and Jefferson helped write the Declaration of Independence 4
The Declaration of Independence is an important primary source document It is a piece of evidence from the beginning of the United States of America Most books and articles about the Declaration of Independence are secondary sources A secondary source interprets a primary source for its audience The Declaration of Independence is on display at the U S National Archives in Washington D C The thirteen original colonies used the Declaration of Independence to formally announce their separation from Great Britain Why would it be important for the colonies to formally announce their separation with such a document Think About It 5
