In 1776 Thomas Jefferson put his quill to paper and the Declaration of Independence sprang to life. Follow the Declaration's journey over the next two centuries, surviving eight wars and traveling through five states on horseback, boat, railcar, and tank to its current home in the National Archives.

"Step back in time to the birth of America and meet the real-life rebels who made this country free! On a hot summer day near Philadelphia in 1776, Thomas Jefferson sat at his desk and wrote furiously until early the next morning. He was drafting the Declaration of Independence, a document that would sever this country's ties with Britain and announce a new nation--The United States of America. Colonists were willing to risk their lives for freedom,...

In May 1787 delegates from across the country--including George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin--gathered in Philadelphia and, meeting over the course of a sweltering summer, created a new framework for governing: the Constitution of the United States.

Retroceda en el tiempo al nacimiento de Estados Unidos en esta obra en espa�nol de la serie WHO HQ, y conozca a los rebeldes de la vida real que hicieron libre a este pa�is. En un caluroso d�ia de verano de 1776, cerca de Filadelfia, Thomas Jefferson se sent�o en su escritorio y escribi�o intensamente hasta la ma�nana siguiente. Estaba redactando la Declaraci�on de Independencia, un documento que romper�ia los lazos de este pa�is...

"Reading and understanding the U.S. Constitution is crucial for all young people who live in the Unites States. Readers learn about the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and how the delegates compromised on various issues so that all the colonies would ratify the document. The checks and balances between the three branches of government are outlined. The relationship between the federal and state governments, the amendment process, and the passage...

An introduction to the life of Thomas Paine reveals how he left behind his home in England, defying conventions in search of a more fulfilling life using his writing talents.

Today the Declaration of Independence is one of the United States' most heavily guarded treasures, but during the War of 1812 it would have been destroyed if not for one man whose story has nearly been forgotten by time.