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![A fragment from earliest known draft of the Declaration of Independence.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090505213255im_/http://www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/aa/jefferson/aa_jefferson_declar_1_m.jpg)
A section of Jefferson's earliest known draft of the Declaration of Independence
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The Declaration of Independence
Almost everyone knows that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. However, did you know that, like most people who write something, he wrote at least one rough draft? This is an example of what's left of the earliest known draft of the Declaration. You can see that Jefferson heavily edited his first draft before he prepared a clean, or "fair," copy that became the basis of the "original rough draught." The other representatives from the 13 colonies selected Jefferson to write the Declaration because they all agreed he was the best writer. Do you know any of the words of the Declaration of Independence by heart?
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