Happy Independence Day!

On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress approved a document declaring the United States free from England. This document was the Declaration of Independence, America's birth certificate. On Independence Day, we celebrate this renowned anniversary!

The Declaration is now often presented as a racist document written by those who supported slavery. But is this true?

Thomas Jefferson, the author of this document, enumerated the many reasons the American colonies were declaring themselves independent. The largest grievance he included in his original draft of the Declaration charged:

He [King George III] has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons 

of a distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere....Determined to keep open a market where MEN should be bought and sold, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or to restrain this execrable commerce.

This grievance was not included in the final copy of the Declaration because of the objection of two states, but its inclusion by Thomas Jefferson shows how serious the issue of slavery was to our Founding Fathers.

The Declaration of Independence was recognized for generations as a document that brought "freedom to the slave [and] liberty to the captives" (John Quincy Adams). 

In honor of the lasting truths set forth in the Declaration of Independence, let’s celebrate this Independence Day in the way recommended by John Adams:

It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.

The American Story: The Beginnings (Book)

July 4th-8th*

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Discover more about America's fascinating history, including our religious heritage!

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* Sale only applies to the book and is active 12:01am CT July 4^th to 11:59pm CT July 8^th.

Presenting America’s forgotten history and heroes

with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage.

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