The Nation: Editing the Declaration

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE underwent numerous changes, mostly minor but some major, before Congress approved it last week. The editing process is illustrated in key excerpts. The words that are crossed out and replaced in roman type are alterations made after Thomas Jefferson consulted with John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The bracketed words were cut and the italicized words were added by the Congress.

"When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for

one dissolve the political bands which have connected them with

people to assume another, and to

assume among the powers of...

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