July 4, 1776

240 years ago, the courageous forefathers of the United States came together to declare independence from a king and a nation that was, at that time, tyrannical in their rule over the American colonies.

The Declaration of Independence

Someday, I hope to do a bit more research on the circumstances surrounding the Declaration of Independence. This year, though, I decided that I should at least read the Declaration of Independence. You can find the document on Archive.org here: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html

If you'd prefer to listen to the Declaration of Independence, I recommend the following YouTube video: The Declaration of Independence (as read by Max McLean)

The Constitution of the United States

You may (or may not) be surprised at how few Americans -- even those in public office -- have never read the US Constitution. If you're an American, this time of the year is a great time to read the Constitution and its amendments. You may read it on Archive.org here: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html If you'd like to listen to it as it's read, I recommend the following YouTube video: The Constitution of the United States Audiobook.

When was the last time that you read or listened to the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States? Have you found it helpful to review the foundational documents of your own nation?