The official declaration of America’s independence from Britain may be dated July 4, 1776, but the story of the Thomas Jefferson's hallowed document really begins two weeks later. On July 19, the ...

Many years ago a reader, Wallace Hooper, wrote to the Chronicle publisher with this request: “To celebrate this and every July Fourth, print the entire text of the Declaration of Independence.” In ...

Today is July 4, and we appropriately celebrate the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration is best known for its ringing affirmation of the rights to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

[This year, my annual post celebrating the Fourth of July is drawn from a chapter of Our Republican Constitution: Securing the Liberty and Sovereignty of We the People, and from a short essay on the ...