Reflections on the
Declaration
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
to Roger C. Weightman (1786-1876)
Page 2
Holograph letter, June 24, 1826
Manuscript Division
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The Declaration of Independence was the defining moment of Jefferson's
life. He envisioned a utopian political arena of continuous revolution,
where each generation remade its laws and constitutions. In his
letter to Roger Weightman, the mayor of Washington, Jefferson continued
to espouse his vision of the Declaration and the nation as signals
to the world of the blessings of self-government in an ever-evolving
society. This was the last letter written by Jefferson, who died
ten days later, on July 4, 1826. Coincidentally, John Adams, another
great defender of liberty, died on the same day.
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