Changes

<blockquote>"Reason first, you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second, I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third, you can write ten times better than I can"</blockquote> (Jefferson's authorship was largely unknown before 1800.) He incorporated ideas and phrases from many sources to arrive at a consensus statement that all patriots could agree upon.  

<blockquote>"Reason first, you are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second, I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third, you can write ten times better than I can"</blockquote> (Jefferson's authorship was largely unknown before 1800.) He incorporated ideas and phrases from many sources to arrive at a consensus statement that all patriots could agree upon.  

Early drafts exist dating to June 1776.<ref>See [http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/frag.html  "Transcription of the Fragment of the Composition Draft of the Declaration of Independence"]</ref> Jefferson's colleagues [[Benjamin Franklin]] and Adams made small changes in his draft text and Congress made more. The  finished document, which both declared independence and proclaimed a philosophy of government, was singly and peculiarly Jefferson's.<ref>See [http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html "Declaration of Independence"]</ref>

Early drafts exist dating to June 1776.<ref>See [http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/frag.html  "Transcription of the Fragment of the Composition Draft of the Declaration of Independence"]</ref> Jefferson's colleagues [[Benjamin Franklin]] and Adams made small changes in his draft text and Congress made more. The  finished document, which both declared independence and proclaimed a philosophy of government, was singly and peculiarly Jefferson's.<ref>See [https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html "Declaration of Independence"]</ref>

===Virginia role===

===Virginia role===

The Declaration was quickly translated into major languages and immediately sparked serious discussion in Europe and Latin America about the legitimacy of empires. By 1826, fifty years after the  drafting, twenty nations already had declarations of independence modeled on it, starting with the Flemish 1790 Manifesto of the Province of Flanders and Haiti's 1804 declaration of independence. In the 20th century, the first wave of independence declarations came after [[World War I]] and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. The second wave lasted from 1945 to 1993, with the closing down of the Japanese, British, French, Portuguese and other empires.  

The Declaration was quickly translated into major languages and immediately sparked serious discussion in Europe and Latin America about the legitimacy of empires. By 1826, fifty years after the  drafting, twenty nations already had declarations of independence modeled on it, starting with the Flemish 1790 Manifesto of the Province of Flanders and Haiti's 1804 declaration of independence. In the 20th century, the first wave of independence declarations came after [[World War I]] and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. The second wave lasted from 1945 to 1993, with the closing down of the Japanese, British, French, Portuguese and other empires.  

By the 21st century, over half of the 192 nations of the world have such declarations. Most, according to Armitage (2007), have copied the style and structure of the Declaration. Most important, the Declaration has marked and helped create the "contagion of sovereignty" that has transformed a world of empires into a world of states.<ref>Historians discount the influence of previous declarations. David Armitage, ''The Declaration of Independence: A Global History'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Declaration-Independence-Global-History/dp/0674022823/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212623939&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]</ref>  

By the 21st century, over half of the 192 nations of the world have such declarations. Most, according to Armitage (2007), have copied the style and structure of the Declaration. Most important, the Declaration has marked and helped create the "contagion of sovereignty" that has transformed a world of empires into a world of states.<ref>Historians discount the influence of previous declarations. David Armitage, ''The Declaration of Independence: A Global History'' (2007) [https://www.amazon.com/Declaration-Independence-Global-History/dp/0674022823/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212623939&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]</ref>  

The world was impressed with how colonies broke away from an empire, but it paid little attention to its more controversial metaphysical claims about all men being born equal with certain rights. Translators had great difficulty handling its key concepts. For example, the "unalienable rights" of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were extremely difficult concepts in China, Japan, and Spain (where Catholic teachings placed true happiness only in the other world). The translators' difficulties with the Declaration also indicate that the document's "truths" about human rights were not nearly so "self-evident" as Jefferson believed. In China and Russia, particularly, the political rights of the individual were clearly not self-evident. Although Americans often enthusiastically championed the benefits of democracy throughout the world, not all nations or peoples appreciated the [[libertarianism|libertarian]] and [[capitalism|capitalist]] values enunciated in the declaration.  They did, however, appreciate its [[Republicanism]], and most new nations declared independence in order to become republics.<ref>Eugene Eoyang, "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Linguistic Parity: Multilingual Perspectives on the Declaration of Independence." '' Journal of American History'' 1999 85(4): 1449-1454.</ref>

The world was impressed with how colonies broke away from an empire, but it paid little attention to its more controversial metaphysical claims about all men being born equal with certain rights. Translators had great difficulty handling its key concepts. For example, the "unalienable rights" of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were extremely difficult concepts in China, Japan, and Spain (where Catholic teachings placed true happiness only in the other world). The translators' difficulties with the Declaration also indicate that the document's "truths" about human rights were not nearly so "self-evident" as Jefferson believed. In China and Russia, particularly, the political rights of the individual were clearly not self-evident. Although Americans often enthusiastically championed the benefits of democracy throughout the world, not all nations or peoples appreciated the [[libertarianism|libertarian]] and [[capitalism|capitalist]] values enunciated in the declaration.  They did, however, appreciate its [[Republicanism]], and most new nations declared independence in order to become republics.<ref>Eugene Eoyang, "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Linguistic Parity: Multilingual Perspectives on the Declaration of Independence." '' Journal of American History'' 1999 85(4): 1449-1454.</ref>

* Armitage, David. "The Declaration of Independence in World Context." '' Magazine of History'' 2004 18(3): 61-66. Issn: 0882-228x Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]

* Armitage, David. "The Declaration of Independence in World Context." '' Magazine of History'' 2004 18(3): 61-66. Issn: 0882-228x Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]

* Armitage, David. "The Declaration of Independence and International Law." ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 2002 59(1): 39-64. Issn: 0043-5597 in [History Cooperative]; also [http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhumanrights.uchicago.edu%2Fcurriculumdevelopment%2Fwinter08%2FArmitage.pdf&images=yes online edition]

* Armitage, David. "The Declaration of Independence and International Law." ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 2002 59(1): 39-64. Issn: 0043-5597 in [History Cooperative]; also [http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhumanrights.uchicago.edu%2Fcurriculumdevelopment%2Fwinter08%2FArmitage.pdf&images=yes online edition]

* Armitage, David. ''The Declaration of Independence: A Global History'' (2007), 300pp  [http://www.amazon.com/Declaration-Independence-Global-History/dp/0674022823/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212623939&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Armitage, David. ''The Declaration of Independence: A Global History'' (2007), 300pp  [https://www.amazon.com/Declaration-Independence-Global-History/dp/0674022823/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212623939&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Becker, Carl. ''The Declaration of Independence: A Study on the History of Political Ideas'' (1922), [http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/Book.php?recordID=0034 online edition]

* Becker, Carl. ''The Declaration of Independence: A Study on the History of Political Ideas'' (1922), [http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/Book.php?recordID=0034 online edition]

* Ellis, Joseph J., ed.  ''What Did the Declaration Declare?'' Bedford Books, 1999. 110 pp.  [http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=28656930163675 online review]

* Ellis, Joseph J., ed.  ''What Did the Declaration Declare?'' Bedford Books, 1999. 110 pp.  [http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=28656930163675 online review]

* [[Benson John Lossing|Lossing, Benson J.]] ''[[Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence]]'', 1848

* [[Benson John Lossing|Lossing, Benson J.]] ''[[Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence]]'', 1848

* Maier, Pauline. ''American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence''  (1998), 336pp [http://www.amazon.com/American-Scripture-Making-Declaration-Independence/dp/0679779086 excerpt and text search]

* Maier, Pauline. ''American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence''  (1998), 336pp [https://www.amazon.com/American-Scripture-Making-Declaration-Independence/dp/0679779086 excerpt and text search]

* Palmer, Robert R. ''The Age of the Democratic Revolution: A Political History of Europe and America, 1760-1800'' (2 vol 1959-64), influential comparison of European countries [http://www.questia.com/library/book/the-age-of-the-democratic-revolution-a-political-history-of-europe-and-america-1760-1800-by-r-r-palmer.jsp online edition of vol 1.]

* Palmer, Robert R. ''The Age of the Democratic Revolution: A Political History of Europe and America, 1760-1800'' (2 vol 1959-64), influential comparison of European countries [http://www.questia.com/library/book/the-age-of-the-democratic-revolution-a-political-history-of-europe-and-america-1760-1800-by-r-r-palmer.jsp online edition of vol 1.]

*  Wills, Garry. ''Inventing America: Jefferson's Declaration of Independence'' (2002) [http://www.amazon.com/Inventing-America-Jeffersons-Declaration-Independence/dp/0618257764/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212624675&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

*  Wills, Garry. ''Inventing America: Jefferson's Declaration of Independence'' (2002) [https://www.amazon.com/Inventing-America-Jeffersons-Declaration-Independence/dp/0618257764/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212624675&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

* McCullough, David. ''John Adams'' (2001), very well written popular biography

* McCullough, David. ''John Adams'' (2001), very well written popular biography

* McDonald, Robert M. S. "Thomas Jefferson's Changing Reputation as Author of the Declaration of Independence: The First Fifty Years," ''Journal of the Early Republic,'' Vol. 19, No. 2 (Summer, 1999), pp.&nbsp;169–195  [http://www.jstor.org/pss/3124951 in JSTOR]

* McDonald, Robert M. S. "Thomas Jefferson's Changing Reputation as Author of the Declaration of Independence: The First Fifty Years," ''Journal of the Early Republic,'' Vol. 19, No. 2 (Summer, 1999), pp.&nbsp;169–195  [http://www.jstor.org/pss/3124951 in JSTOR]

* Maier, Pauline. ''American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence''  (1998), 336pp [http://www.amazon.com/American-Scripture-Making-Declaration-Independence/dp/0679779086 excerpt and text search]

* Maier, Pauline. ''American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence''  (1998), 336pp [https://www.amazon.com/American-Scripture-Making-Declaration-Independence/dp/0679779086 excerpt and text search]

* Malone, Dumas. ''Jefferson and the Rights of Man.'' 1951. Pp.&nbsp;550pp, vol 2 of Malone's standard biography

* Malone, Dumas. ''Jefferson and the Rights of Man.'' 1951. Pp.&nbsp;550pp, vol 2 of Malone's standard biography

* Middlekauff, Robert. '' The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789'' (2nd ed 2007) general history of the Revolution [http://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Cause-American-Revolution-1763-1789/dp/019531588X/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191287482&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Middlekauff, Robert. '' The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789'' (2nd ed 2007) general history of the Revolution [https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Cause-American-Revolution-1763-1789/dp/019531588X/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191287482&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

*Miller, John C. ''Triumph of Freedom, 1775-1783'' (1948), standard scholarly political and military history of the Revolution [http://www.questia.com/read/14559136 online edition]

*Miller, John C. ''Triumph of Freedom, 1775-1783'' (1948), standard scholarly political and military history of the Revolution [http://www.questia.com/read/14559136 online edition]

* Peterson, Merrill D. ''Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation: A Biography'' (1986), long, detailed biography by leading scholar; [http://www.questia.com/library/book/thomas-jefferson-and-the-new-nation-a-biography-by-merrill-d-peterson.jsp online edition]; also [http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Jefferson-New-Nation-Biography/dp/0195019091/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203807519&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

* Peterson, Merrill D. ''Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation: A Biography'' (1986), long, detailed biography by leading scholar; [http://www.questia.com/library/book/thomas-jefferson-and-the-new-nation-a-biography-by-merrill-d-peterson.jsp online edition]; also [https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Jefferson-New-Nation-Biography/dp/0195019091/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203807519&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

* Ritz, Wilfred J. "The Authentication of the Engrossed Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776," ''Law and History Review,'' Vol. 4, No. 1. (Spring, 1986), pp.&nbsp;179–204. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0738-2480%28198621%294%3A1%3C179%3ATAOTED%3E2.0.CO%3B2-A in JSTOR]

* Ritz, Wilfred J. "The Authentication of the Engrossed Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776," ''Law and History Review,'' Vol. 4, No. 1. (Spring, 1986), pp.&nbsp;179–204. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0738-2480%28198621%294%3A1%3C179%3ATAOTED%3E2.0.CO%3B2-A in JSTOR]

* Wills, Garry. ''Inventing America: Jefferson's Declaration of Independence'' (2002) [http://www.amazon.com/Inventing-America-Jeffersons-Declaration-Independence/dp/0618257764/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191287805&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Wills, Garry. ''Inventing America: Jefferson's Declaration of Independence'' (2002) [https://www.amazon.com/Inventing-America-Jeffersons-Declaration-Independence/dp/0618257764/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191287805&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

===International impact===

===International impact===

* Adams, Willi Paul. "German Translations of the American Declaration of Independence." ''Journal of American History'' 1999 85(4): 1325-1349. Issn: 0021-8723 Fulltext: [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2568255 in Jstor]  

* Adams, Willi Paul. "German Translations of the American Declaration of Independence." ''Journal of American History'' 1999 85(4): 1325-1349. Issn: 0021-8723 Fulltext: [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2568255 in Jstor]  

* Armitage, David. "The Declaration of Independence and International Law." ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 2002 59(1): 39-64. Issn: 0043-5597 in [History Cooperative]; also [http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhumanrights.uchicago.edu%2Fcurriculumdevelopment%2Fwinter08%2FArmitage.pdf&images=yes online edition]

* Armitage, David. "The Declaration of Independence and International Law." ''William and Mary Quarterly'' 2002 59(1): 39-64. Issn: 0043-5597 in [History Cooperative]; also [http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/pdf2html.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhumanrights.uchicago.edu%2Fcurriculumdevelopment%2Fwinter08%2FArmitage.pdf&images=yes online edition]

* Armitage, David. ''The Declaration of Independence: A Global History'' (2007), 300pp  [http://www.amazon.com/Declaration-Independence-Global-History/dp/0674022823/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212623939&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Armitage, David. ''The Declaration of Independence: A Global History'' (2007), 300pp  [https://www.amazon.com/Declaration-Independence-Global-History/dp/0674022823/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212623939&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Armitage, David. "The Declaration of Independence in World Context." ''Magazine of History'' 2004 18(3): 61-66. Issn: 0882-228x Fulltext in Ebsco. Discusses the drafting of the Declaration and the international motivations that inspired it, the global reactions to the document in its first fifty years, and its afterlife as a broad modern statement of individual and collective rights.

* Armitage, David. "The Declaration of Independence in World Context." ''Magazine of History'' 2004 18(3): 61-66. Issn: 0882-228x Fulltext in Ebsco. Discusses the drafting of the Declaration and the international motivations that inspired it, the global reactions to the document in its first fifty years, and its afterlife as a broad modern statement of individual and collective rights.

* Aruga, Tadashi. "The Declaration of Independence in Japan: Translation and Transplantation, 1854-1997," ''The Journal of American History,'' Vol. 85, No. 4 (Mar., 1999), pp.&nbsp;1409–1431 [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2568263 in JSTOR]

* Aruga, Tadashi. "The Declaration of Independence in Japan: Translation and Transplantation, 1854-1997," ''The Journal of American History,'' Vol. 85, No. 4 (Mar., 1999), pp.&nbsp;1409–1431 [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2568263 in JSTOR]