Talk:United States Declaration of Independence

Talk:United States Semiquincentennial#RfC: Should the following sentence summarizing controversies related to America's 250th anniversary celebrations be added to the lead?

This ongoing RfC may be of interest to editors of this article. Thanks. Randy Kryn (talk) 11:40, 19 May 2026 (UTC)

A request to re-feature John Adams on the evening of July 4, 2026

Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/John Adams may be of interest to editors of this page. This would be featured on the evening of July 4 while the 250th anniversary celebrations are in progress. Randy Kryn (talk) 10:52, 23 May 2026 (UTC)

Thomas Paine's writing in relation to the Declaration of Independence

"After reading it, Washington ordered that it be read by his Continental Army troops, who were demoralized following recent military defeats." This sentence is incorrect, since the "it" refers to Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense"—a 47-page pamphlet. Washington did not order "Common Sense" read to his troops, nor do historians make that claim. It's reported, incorrectly, in some sources that Washington ordered Paine's "American Crisis No. 1" (which famously opens with "These are the times that try men's souls") read by his troops on the eve of Trenton. This, however, lacks primary evidence, which scholars have searched for & haven't found [Connor, Jett, Journal of the American Revolution, “The American Crisis Before Crossing the Delaware?” (February 25, 2015), online. https://allthingsliberty.com/2015/02/american-crisis-before-crossing-the-delaware/ —-it's basically a folk-tale that's been incorporated in some early Paine biographies. ~2026-25097-10 (talk) 23:00, 25 May 2026 (UTC)

It's also not true that Common Sense was the most widely read publication—-unless it notes except for The Bible.

Mike Schneider — Preceding unsigned comment added by ~2026-25097-10 (talk) 23:09, 25 May 2026 (UTC)

Not a scholarly source, but a blogger (https://freakonomics.com/2011/09/were-colonial-americans-more-literate-than-americans-today/) calculates that 20% of the (free white) population of the colonies had bought a copy of Common Sense in 1776. So the claim that it is the most widely read ever is hyperbole, but the amount that it was read is significant, if someone can come up with a clear way to explain that. HistoryFore (talk) 17:59, 28 May 2026 (UTC)

This article's references

Please see discussion about possible changes to this article's general referencing style at Wikipedia:Village pump (technical)#United States Declaration of Independence references. - Shearonink (talk) 20:09, 30 May 2026 (UTC)

the period after "pursuit of happiness"

from what i know of the history of the drafting and subsequent printing of the DoI there should not be a period there and that it was erroneously added by a "rogue printer" ~2026-14871-36 (talk) 18:41, 1 June 2026 (UTC)

Featured picture scheduled for POTD

Hello! This is to let editors know that File:USA declaration independence.jpg, a featured picture that is used in this article, has been selected as the English Wikipedia's picture of the day (POTD) for July 4, 2026. A preview of the POTD is displayed below and can be edited at Template:POTD/2026-07-04. For the greater benefit of readers, any potential improvements or maintenance that could benefit the quality of this article should be done before its scheduled appearance on the Main Page. If you have any concerns, please place a message at Wikipedia talk:Picture of the day. Thank you!  — Amakuru (talk) 10:21, 15 June 2026 (UTC)

The Declaration of Independence is the founding document of the United States, adopted unanimously by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Principally drafted by Thomas Jefferson with input from the Committee of Five, it announced the result of the Lee Resolution, passed two days earlier, that the Thirteen Colonies were independent states no longer subject to British rule. The Declaration justified separation by asserting the principles of natural rights, government by consent, and the right of revolution, while listing grievances against George III. Its assertion that "all men are created equal" has become one of the most influential statements in political history, shaping democratic and independence movements worldwide. The image shows the engrossed parchment copy prepared by Timothy Matlack and signed by the delegates. This version, signed primarily on August 2, is preserved in the Charters of Freedom of the National Archives Building and is generally considered to be the official document.

Document credit: Thomas Jefferson; prepared by Timothy Matlack and photographed by the National Archives and Records Administration

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