Virtual Journey of the Declaration of Independence: The Initial Move Toward Independence

National Archives Museum
Online

This summer, take a Virtual Journey with the National Archives to find out how the Declaration of Independence came to be. The National Archives is the permanent home of the original Declaration of Independence.

Our Virtual Journey of the Declaration of Independence takes place on the following dates: June 7, June 11, July 2, July 4, July 9, July 19, and August 2. Each step of the Journey will go live on the @USNatArchives Facebook page by 1 p.m. of the program date. Join us along with historical reenactors to learn more about the Declaration of Independence.

On June 7 we take our first step of the Virtual Journey of the Declaration of Independence with our nation's initial move toward independence. Learn how Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense influenced the second Continental Congress and prompted Richard Henry Lee’s writing of the Lee Resolution.

June 11 is the second step of our Virtual Journey of the Declaration of Independence, when we learn from Thomas Jefferson about the Committee of Five, who they were, and how they decided that the “expression of the American Mind” required a new document.

Find out what happened on July 2, our third step of the Virtual Journey of the Declaration of Independence, when John Adams shares his thoughts on government on the date when Congress reconvened and prepared to officially adopt the Declaration.

Celebrate July 4 and the fourth step of the Virtual Journey of the Declaration of Independence by learning how John Dunlap printed his famous copies of the declaration—now known as the Dunlap broadside.

Travel with us on July 9 for our fifth step of our Virtual Journey of the Declaration of Independence. Trace the path of the Declaration as copies were sent across the colonies to be read in public places, and find out Abigail Adams's response to hearing it read in Boston.

On July 19, the sixth step of the Virtual Journey of the Declaration of Independence, learn from Timothy Matlack about the parchment and ink he used for the final version. 

August 2 is the final step of the Virtual Journey of the Declaration of Independence. On this day when the document was officially signed, listen to Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Oney Judge (formerly enslaved by George Washington), Abigail Adams, and Ned Hector (a soldier from the Battle of Brandywine) discuss the Declaration as a building block for the new United States and describe its permanent home in the Rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, DC.