"We Hold These Truths
To Be Self Evident . . ."

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
"Original Rough Draught of the
Declaration of Independence"
Holograph with minor emendations by
John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, June 1776
Manuscript Division

The "original Rough draught" of the Declaration of Independence, one of the great milestones in American history, shows the evolution of the text from the initial "fair copy" draft by Thomas Jefferson to the final text adopted by Congress on the morning of July 4, 1776.

Additional Views:
Page 1 (enlarged)
Page 2 (correction flap up)
Page 2 (correction flap down)
Page 2 (enlarged)
Page 3 - Page 3 (enlarged)
Page 4 - Page 4 (enlarged)