In July 1776, Congress voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence. Nearly two and a half centuries later, that day is celebrated as the birthday of the United States. However, there are some pieces of the story you may not know.
First, while Thomas Jefferson gets credit for writing the Declaration, he was actually one of five contributors. Second, some of Jefferson’s most memorable words and phrases were borrowed and tweaked from other writers. Lastly, Jefferson had originally included a passage on the evils of slavery, but it was cut from the final draft in part because Congress wanted no mention of slavery in the nation’s founding document. This remains an important reminder that the revolution did not guarantee Liberty and Equality for All.