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In the summer of 1776, delegates to the Second Continental Congress gave Thomas Jefferson the job of telling the world why the American colonies wanted to break free from Britain.
He did just that. He also said what the new nation would stand for. His bold and beautiful words have rung out through the centuries. They’ve inspired nations on every continent to work for their own independence. The document also gave courage to Americans at home. Both African Americans and women have drawn on the statements about liberty and equality. They used these in their fights to end slavery and gain equal rights for all Americans.
