The Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, was first published in a newspaper on July 6, 1776. The Pennsylvania Evening Post, printed by Benjamin Towne in Philadelphia, published the first newspaper version of the Declaration.
Spreading the News
John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, sent copies of the Declaration to George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and to the states. He wanted to make sure that the people were informed about the decision to declare independence from Great Britain.
The Declaration was read aloud to Washington’s army in New York on July 9, 1776. It was also published in other newspapers and distributed through broadsides and public readings.
A Call to Action
The Declaration of Independence was not just a statement of principles, but a call to action. It was a message to the American people that they were now free and independent states, and that they had the power to govern themselves.
The Continental Congress continued to work on the machinery of war, handling correspondence, and making decisions about supplies and military strategy. The Declaration of Independence had become a powerful symbol of the American Revolution, and it would continue to inspire and motivate the American people throughout the war.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
