250 to 250:105. Declaration of Independence, Narrated by Heather Cox Richardson

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Declaration of Independence, Narrated by Heather Cox Richardson

Heather Cox Richardson is an award-winning historian and the author of Letters from an American. She’s the author of seven books, including the bestselling Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America. Richardson revisits the Declaration of Independence and the principles of equality and self-government that set America on the road to becoming "the last, best hope of Earth."

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence.

• The 13 colonies declared independence from Great Britain.
• The Declaration said that all people are equal.
• It said that government gets its power from the people.

On August 2, 1776, many delegates signed the Declaration.

• Signing the Declaration was dangerous.
• The signers promised to support American independence.
• The United States has not always treated everyone equally.
• Americans continue to work for freedom and equality.
• The Declaration helped create the United States of America.
• Later, Abraham Lincoln called America, "the last best hope of Earth."
  

POP Interview and Civics Quiz: 

• N-400 Part 2:6. What is your Date of Birth?
• USCIS 100:63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
• USCIS 128:08. Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
• USCIS 128:09. What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
• Reading: When is Independence Day? 
• Writing:  Independence Day is in July. 

Family Fun:

• American English at State: Celebrate Independence Day (pdf)
• Heather Cox Richardson: The Declaration of Independence | Journey to American Democracy
• LOC: Declaration of Independence: Primary Documents in American History
• NPS: The Declaration of Independence | Junior Ranger Activity Booklet
• National Archives: Declaration of Independence
• National Postal Museum: Declaration of Independence | 2026 stamp
• New York Historical: The Declaration of Independence // The Citizenship Project [E01]
• PBS: The Declaration of Independence & Birth of the United States (clip) | Ken Burns' The American Revolution 
• PBS Learning Media: Explore the Declaration of Independence
• Smithsonian: Signers of the Declaration of Independence
• TED-ED: What you might not know about the Declaration of Independence - Kenneth C. Davis (video)
• US Mint: Declaration of Independence Quarter coloring page
• Wikipedia: 1862 State of the Union Address: "Last Best Hope" quoted by other US presidents
• Untold History: Why did the Colonies Declare Independence? | Are All Men Created Equal? How the Founding Fathers Viewed Slavery (check for more)
• USCIS: For Independence Day
• USCIS highlights some of the resources for learners and teachers that are related to this important holiday.  Includes Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence and Establishing Independence.   Also check out two pdfs from the 13-pdf A More Perfect Union series: The Civics Test Guide to the Memorial to the Signers of Declaration of Independence and The Civics Test Guide to the Jefferson Memorial