♪ Land of the free ♪
♪ Home of the brave ♪
♪ That's what makes the United States ♪
♪ Now let's take a journey with the spirit of freedom ♪
♪ Liberty will lead the way ♪
♪ Let's take a star (star!) spangled adventure ♪
♪ Star (star!) spangled adventure ♪
♪ All the things you'd wanna know ♪
♪ about America's in this show ♪
♪ So come on all you Patriots let's go ♪
(upbeat music)
- Blast it all.
- Thomas, what is it?
- The Congress is expecting this document today.
- I know Thomas.
- I have so many thoughts as to why America
should declare its independence from that plundering
tyrant King George.
- Just start writing them down.
- I have, but I don't know if it says what needs to be said.
(knocking)
- I am certain it is clear and articulate, Thomas.
- You're here just in time!
Much has been happening in the American colonies.
Tension and conflicts have only gotten worse
and soldiers are beginning to fight.
Right now we're down the street
from Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
That's where the second continental Congress meets.
They have called for written declaration
as to why America must separate from England
and become its own country.
To write this declaration of independence,
they've appointed Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston,
Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.
- Thomas, Mr. Hancock and Mr. Franklin are here.
I shall get the tea.
- Have they sent you to see if I'm done yet?
- Oh, Congress may have mentioned it once or twice.
- or thrice.
- Oh, but fret not, we have come to help you
since you have done the lion's share of the writing.
- I've been reading over Thomas Paine again.
He had a number of salient points and of course John Locke.
I especially like his sentence,
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
- Yes, his discourse on role of government is brilliant.
My friend, why not just read what you have?
- Yes, I am certain it is fine.
- I thought there should be a preamble
before we list all our complaints
against that mad King George.
- Excellent idea.
- 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.
- Why, Thomas, that introduces it wonderfully.
- I agree.
- Now that we are declaring our independence
and putting it on paper,
the magnitude of what we are saying is staggering.
- Indeed, it is profound.
- The Declaration of Independence
uses some old fashioned words.
The words may be old fashioned,
but what they mean are timeless.
Let's look at some of them.
We hold these truths to be self evident,
that all men are created equal.
Back then, when they wrote men,
what they meant was all people, humanity.
If we wrote it today, we'd say every man, woman
and child is created equal.
That they are endowed by their creator
with certain unalienable rights.
Endowed means given.
God, not government, gives rights to all people.
Unalienable means these rights can't be taken away
or even given away.
They belong to us just because we are people.
- That to secure these rights,
governments are instituted among men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
- Ah, that is the key now, isn't it?
Those being governed are over the ones who govern.
- [Eagle] This is something every American
must always remember.
We, the people are in charge of our country
and we elect our leaders to run the country
the way we collectively want them to.
If they don't do a good job, we vote them out.
- The last part here is
that whenever any form of government becomes destructive
of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter
or to abolish it and to institute new government.
- This will change all of our lives.
- This will change the world.
- But this shall not come easy.
We may be arrested by the king or even killed.
- All of the delegates must think long
and hard before they sign this.
- This is true.
Therefore, all of us who sign this
must mutually pledge to each other our very lives.
- And our fortunes. - And our sacred honor.
- Gentlemen, these thoughts
are how we must end this declaration.
- Mrs. Jefferson, it is time for us to steal your husband
away for a time, he's needed in Congress.
- God be with all of you. (chattering)
- I was not expecting so many revisions.
- Patience, Thomas (upbeat music)
♪ Sign your name, commit, declare it ♪
♪ Stand up strong and be loud so they can hear it ♪
♪ We, the people, will not sit tight ♪
♪ We, the people, we have our rights ♪
♪ We hold these truths to be self evident ♪
♪ Freedom is what we will represent ♪
♪ Let's write it down, it's time to get it done ♪
♪ Our defining moment of independence ♪
♪ We are all endowed by our creator ♪
♪ No one person is better or greater ♪
♪ Let's write it down so we can express ♪
♪ Life, liberty and happiness ♪
♪ Sign your name, commit, declare it ♪
♪ Stand up strong and be loud so they can hear it ♪
♪ Our God given rights will not be blocked ♪
♪ So put your name next to John Hancock's ♪
- There, I imagine old King George
can read that without his spectacles.
- What? Who's there? (throat clearing)
- He has forbidden his governors to pass laws
of immediate and pressing importance.
- What you colonist priggers say?
- Unless suspended in their operation
till his assent should be obtained.
- I rule as I see fit.
- And when so suspended,
he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
- I am George William Frederick.
Crowned King George the third of Great Britain
and Ireland and my rule is absolute!
(words echoing)
I am king and you do what I say.
I rule the greatest empire on Earth!
(fireworks exploding)
- Jefferson always regretted
that the Congress cut the portion of what he had written,
condemning slavery, he called it moral
and political depravity and an abominable crime.
However, the Congress thought if it was in there,
it would only cause more arguments
at a time when they needed to stand together.
Congress approved the Declaration of Independence
on July 4th, 1776 and that has become our nation's birthday.
That's why every July 4th we celebrate.
(fireworks exploding)
(upbeat music)