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WASHINGTON - Library of Congress officials say Thomas Jefferson made a Freudian slip while penning a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence. In an early draft of the document, which is kept under lock and key in one of the Library's vaults, Jefferson referred to the American population as "subjects," then replaced it with the word "citizens," a term he used frequently throughout the final draft.

HOW IS it,’’ the great English man of letters Samuel Johnson taunted Americans 235 years ago, “that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of Negroes?’’ His fellow Englishman Thomas Day remarked in 1776 with equal scorn: “If there be an object truly ridiculous in nature it is an American patriot signing resolutions of independency with the one hand and with the other brandishing a whip over his affrighted slaves.’’ That America’s founders were hypocrites, above all on the subject of race, is an enduring charge. Examples are legion. At a Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society rally in 1854,...

Draft Declaration and Protest of Virginia on the Principles of the Constitution of the United States of America, and on the Violations of Them [by the Federal Government] December, 1825We, the General Assembly of Virginia, on behalf, and in the name of the people thereof, do declare as follows: The States in North America which confederated to establish their independence of the government of Great Britain, of which Virginia was one, became, on that acquisition, free and independent States, and as such, authorized to constitute governments, each for itself, in such form as it thought best. They entered into a...

Today we celebrate the day that our forefathers declared their independence from King George and British rule. As you can see by the image of this document, our leaders in history made such an important declaration on one page…not 1000. Better yet, the people could read it and sign it, understanding it…they didn’t have to wait until it was passed to read it. Pelosi, are you taking notes here? Of course, the opening words, “In Congress”, would not invoke images of a corrupt governing body that has a 25% approval rating, at best. It didn’t represent pork barrel spending, Congressman...

“IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America: When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that...

At this time of the year, while most U.S. citizens are contemplating U.S. independence and the Declaration of Independence, I ask myself why, in 19 years of teaching in the New York Public Schools, I have not once heard the students gathered to sing in any assembly or forum "America the Beautiful," " God Bless America," or "My Country ‘Tis of Thee?"  The National Anthem has only been sung once a year at the graduation ceremonies.  This serious omission of patriotic fervor can be attributed to the leftist influence on the school system.  Most leftists believe the Declaration of Independence...

Quill pen in hand, Thomas Jefferson invited the King's noose when he set out to write what his fellow founders at first thought would be a mundane legal document: a declaration of independence from the British crown. But despite a preamble that became a paean to individual liberty that has rivaled the Magna Carta in the breadth of its global impact, Mr. Jefferson apparently committed a slip of the pen. To usher in the Fourth of July weekend, the Library of Congress revealed hard evidence from high-resolution spectral imaging that Jefferson, on the third page of a "rough draught," wiped...

America is fast coming to a crossroads from which there will be no return if we take the wrong path. Do we take the road that leads away from America and toward a Euro-esque way of governing? Do we cast aside our American character and bury our great nation in a grave of socialist-styled authority? Do we damn our progeny to a failed superstate that violate every tenet of our original ideals? I say we do not. I say we reject the democrat’s Euro-esque ideas and refocus ourselves on American exceptionalism. Our federal system has strayed far from our founding...

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights - that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men" The Declaration of Independence was the birth certificate of the United States of America. The principles they communicate have informed our history as a free people and inspired our neighbors in other parts of the world to stand up against all forms of tyranny. As we reflect upon the text this weekend we need...

The average American "celebrates" July 4 by barbecuing, drinking a beer or two, and watching fireworks. I am convinced most Americans have NEVER (since high school, anyway) read this most amazing, audacious, inflammatory and revolutionary document. Everyone should pull it out, read it, and give friends printed copies when they come over. Most of the document is a set of gripes, but the really "meaty" sections are paragraphs one and two, and then the last one. Some of the more salient points of this jaw dropping, in your face statement of defiance are below: 1) Governments derive their just powers...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Preservation scientists at the Library of Congress have discovered that Thomas Jefferson, even in the act of declaring independence from England, had trouble breaking free from monarchial rule. In an early draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote the word "subjects," when he referred to the American public. He then erased that word and replaced it with "citizens," a term he used frequently throughout the final draft.

To Congress, July 4 2010 A DECLARATION By The Citizens of the United States of America, When in the course of history, it becomes necessary for the citizens’ to dissolve the political parties which have connected them together and assume the powers of the country, the separate but equal station which the laws of nature and God entitles them, to respect the opinions off its citizens it requires that they should announce the reasons that force them to separate. We hold these truths to be without question, all people are created equal, these rights are given by God and not...

The tenderest words in American political history were cut from the document they were to have graced. It was July 1, 2 ,3 and 4, 1776, in the State House in Philadelphia. America was being born. The Continental Congress was reviewing and editing the language of the proposed Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson, its primary author, was suffering the death of a thousand cuts. The tensions over slavery had been wrenching, terrible, and were resolved by brute calculation: to damn or outlaw it now would break fragile consensus, halt all momentum, and stop the creation of the United States....

A friend of mine, a federal employee received the following in his email...I've redacted only the portions that might compromise his identity... *********************************************** The White House / Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release / May 28, 2010 Presidential Proclamation--Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month < http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamation-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-pride-month > A PROCLAMATION As Americans, it is our birthright that all people are created equal and deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Since our earliest days of independence, our Nation has striven to fulfill that promise. An important chapter in our great, unfinished story is the movement for fairness and...

Yesterday, brought us media pundits stumbling through basic citizenship questions, today brings us John McCain nemesis J.D. Hayworth stumbling through basic U.S. history questions…sort of. Hayworth is making some headlines for telling an audience member at local GOP gathering that technically speaking the U.S. never declared war in Nazi Germany. Cue collective gasp (and a lot of Texas textbook jokes). Here’s what he said in full in response to an audience member who remarked on how the U.S. no longer formally declares war in modern conflicts: I would also point out, that if we want to be sticklers, the war...

Just ran across this video today and thought it was cool. Did a search prior to posting but didn't find anything.

Awe-inspiring video from the San Antonio Tea Party crowd for the 2010 elections... Lives. Fortunes. Sacred Honor. I’m there. Are you?

As a social studies teacher, this one strikes close to home. On my classroom walls, I have several quotes from figures we study in my various classes. Among these are phrases attributed to Sun Tzu, Alexander the Great, and, of course, many icons of American history. Two of my favorites come from Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln: "God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just,...

We invite you to read the Declaration of Tea Party Independence below, which the Hartford Tea Party Patriots has signed and wholeheartedly supports. Recent events have dictated that we NOT allow ourselves to be defined by Democrats, Republicans, the media, and other self-serving individuals and groups. This document was created by a group of tea party patriots who like you are saying: Enough Is Enough! This Declaration of Tea Party Independence represents our creed and our charter moving forward. We the People of the tea party movement define ourselves and our purposes. We the People of the tea party movement...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Obama has declared a disaster in eight counties in Maryland because of damage done by a snowstorm in December. Baltimore, Caroline, Cecil, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery and Queen Anne's counties will be eligible for federal funding. The state of Maryland and certain private nonprofits will also be eligible for emergency protective measures.