As Independence Day draws near, we at the Library of Congress hope that our readers are mostly savoring their independence from the challenges of the school year.
But if this time of year brings the nation’s founding documents to mind, you might want to revisit our past posts exploring the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson’s Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence: A Primary Source Starter and Online Activity: Rewriting the Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence both immerse students in the process of revision and debate that brought the Declaration into being, and encourage them to think about how changes to the document might have resulted in a very different nation to the one we celebrate today.
If, however, you’re in the mood to just celebrate, please enjoy this gallery of pyrotechnic photos from the Library’s collections, along with some musical accompaniment.