Kids Version of the Declaration of Independence

A kids' version of the Declaration of Independence is helpful when enticing children to learn about the history and foundation of the United States. The original version of the Declaration of Independence is found on the original Congress website, but a kids' version makes it easier to understand and more relevant to what kids know today. This might even be helpful and useful for most adults! .

The Declaration of Independence is a seminal document in American and world history. Adopted by the United States Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence declared the intention of the American colonies to free themselves from British rule and become an independent, sovereign nation.In addition to protesting against the policies and actions of King George III and providing the reasons for the colonies to affirm their status as an independent nation, the document is also revered for its assertion of people's legal and natural rights, such as rights to basic human dignity and to rebel against an oppressor.And while the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain served its purpose as defining the reasons for revolution at the time, its words still hold great significance. This is especially true in the identification, advancement and preservation of American values of human rights, the core ideals of which were defined in just one sentence of the document:" 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.The significance of the words and message of the document may not be easily accessible to children, however, because it was written by adults for an adult audience, in language terms that are more than 200 years old (for example, using the term "men" to represent both men and women).To remedy these barriers to sharing the significance of the Declaration of Independence with children, various versions of a kids' version of the Declaration of Independence have been published. These versions allow children not only to better understand the history of the American Revolution, but also to gain an understanding of the important principles on which the United States was founded.Kid-friendly information about this important document, to include a kids' version of the Declaration of Independence, can be found online at sites like History for Kids and Kids Konnect.