It offers a fine educational opportunity for kids of all ages. Obtain a printed copy or download it and print it out. Have the kids read parts of it aloud. Start with the second paragraph of the Declaration, the one that starts off "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal,..." If you have daughters you might point out that "Men" as well as "Mankind" meant (and still means) the whole human race, women and men together. That usage persists until the rise of feminism. Tolkien, writing in the 1950's would write of "races of Elves and Dwarves, and Men". You can also point out to both sons and daughters that this clause prohibits titles of nobility (Duke, Earl, Marquis, Baron, etc) in America and to Americans. This occurred at a time when the Great Powers, England, Spain, Russia, and France, all had hereditary nobles. The first part of the Declaration is still alive and meaningful. Jefferson's later list of specific grievances against the British Crown are of lesser importance today. The grievances are political grievances from 250 years ago and their time has largely passed. In 1776 they were important. The Declaration of Independence was also a declaration of war against the British Crown, and Jefferson wanted to rally as many Americans to the patriot cause as he could.
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