First published 1999
Popular mythology credits Thomas Jefferson alone with writing the Declaration of Independence in his Philadelphia study. This collection of five historians dismantles that romantic notion. They argue the document emerged from multiple influences and collaborative efforts on the congressional floor itself. Each historian approaches the question from a different angle. They examine who truly authored the Declaration, what sources shaped its language, and how it affected American political thought. The authors present competing theories about the writing process and challenge readers to reconsider what they think they know about this founding document. Their research reveals a messier, more complex story than the traditional narrative suggests.
Genres: history, non-fiction, academic, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, political-drama
Setting: Philadelphia
Period: 18th Century, Early America
Paperback · Bedford/St. Martin's