Declaration of Independence

An NPR Tradition, Here's The Reading Of The Declaration Of Independence

5:02am July 02, 2021

Over the past 32 years, Morning Edition has broadcast a reading of the Declaration of Independence by NPR staff as a way of marking Independence Day. This year, we also offer some historical context.

Shannon LaNier poses at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. in 2012. LaNier is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.

Politics & Government

Thomas Jefferson Descendant Reflects On His Ancestor's Memorial And Legacy

12:02am July 16, 2020

by Steve Inskeep

Shannon LaNier is the sixth great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. He talks to NPR about the founding father's complicated history, and how that should be reflected in his memorial.

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NPR Reads The Declaration Of Independence

8:16am July 03, 2020

NPR hosts and reporters read the Declaration of Independence in celebration of the Independence Day holiday.

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A July 4 NPR Tradition: A Reading Of The Declaration Of Independence

5:18am July 04, 2019

On this Fourth of July, NPR presents our annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. Read the original text alongside photos of the NPR staff members who performed the reading.

National

A July 4th Tradition: The Declaration Of Independence, Read Aloud

11:12am July 04, 2017

by NPR Staff

Twenty-nine years ago, Morning Edition launched what has become an Independence Day ritual: NPR journalists reading the Declaration of Independence.

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How much do you know about Independence Day?

QUIZ: 11 Random Facts About Independence Day For Your Backyard Party

10:00am July 04, 2017

by Domenico Montanaro

How many people lived in the original 13 Colonies? How much do we import in American flags? The pressing questions to get you through July Fourth.

National

The Declaration Of Independence, 240 Years Later

1:41pm July 04, 2016

by NPR Staff

On July 4, 1776, church bells rang out over Philadelphia as the Continental Congress adopted Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence.

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The Mayflower, the ship in which the Pilgrims crossed the Atlantic to the New World in 1620.

Reconsidering The Pilgrims, Piety And America's Founding Principles

11:07am November 26, 2015

by Tom Gjelten

Conservatives who want to emphasize America's Christian roots embrace the story of the Pilgrims and the Mayflower Compact. But some historians say their role in the country's founding is overstated.

Artist John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence. It can be seen in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

Just A Few Important Words About The Declaration Of Independence

2:37pm July 06, 2015

by Mark Memmott

Along with the words and phrases that still ring out 239 years later are less noticed turns of phrase. They say a lot about the messages Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers wanted to send.

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