Omar Bennett
The US Constitution and Declaration of Independence are two of the most important documents in the history of the United States. The Declaration of Independence, which was adopted in 1776, expresses the ideals on which the US was founded and outlines the reasons for its separation from Great Britain. The US Constitution, which superseded the Articles of Confederation in 1789, establishes the framework of the federal government and embodies the doctrine of the separation of powers. Both documents are housed in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, where they are open to the public.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | The Rotunda of the National Archives Building, Washington, DC |
| Display | Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. |
| Document Name | The Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America |
| Date of Adoption | July 4, 1776 |
| Adopting Body | Second Continental Congress |
| Location of Adoption | Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Purpose | To justify the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from the Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Legal Status | Not legally binding |
| Preservation | Under the most exacting archival conditions possible |
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What You'll Learn
- The Declaration of Independence is located in the Rotunda Room of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC
- The US Constitution is also located in the Rotunda Room of the National Archives Building
- The Charters of Freedom are the collective name for the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights
- John Trumbull's painting of the Declaration hangs in the US Capitol Rotunda
- The Declaration was written to explain the separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain
The Declaration of Independence is located in the Rotunda Room of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC
The Declaration of Independence is one of the three Charters of Freedom, which also include the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. These documents are considered the founding documents of the United States, expressing the ideals on which the nation was founded and defining the framework of the Federal Government.
The Declaration of Independence has a significant place in the hearts of Americans. It states the principles on which the US government and identity as Americans are based, including the famous phrase, "all men are created equal". It expresses the reasons for separation from Great Britain and is considered a powerful symbol of freedom and equality, although it is not legally binding.
The document has been preserved and maintained under exacting archival conditions due to its fragile state. Years of public display have caused fading and wear, and in 2001, it was removed from the Rotunda to be prepared for a new case. This allowed conservators to examine the reverse side, which included two lines of text: "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th."
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The US Constitution is also located in the Rotunda Room of the National Archives Building
The US Constitution is located in the Rotunda Room of the National Archives Building, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Designed by architect John Russell Pope, the Rotunda features a soaring domed ceiling and two murals by Barry Faulkner, depicting fictional scenes of the presentations of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Rotunda is meant to serve as a shrine to American democracy.
The Charters of Freedom, which include the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States. They secure the rights of the American people and are permanently housed in the Rotunda of the National Archives. The Rotunda provides the ideal setting for these foundational documents, with its grand architectural design and artistic representations of key moments in American history.
The Declaration of Independence, in particular, has held a significant place in the hearts of Americans. Over the years, public display and handling have resulted in fading and wear on the original parchment document. In 2001, the Declaration was temporarily removed from the Rotunda to be prepared for a new case, providing a rare opportunity to examine its reverse side. The conservation and preservation of this cherished document are now a priority, with archivists employing exacting archival conditions to ensure its longevity.
The US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights are foundational documents that embody the principles and rights upon which the United States was established. Their presence in the Rotunda Room of the National Archives Building underscores their significance and provides a physical reminder of the nation's democratic ideals. Visitors to the Rotunda can bear witness to the enduring legacy of these documents and their role in shaping the course of American history.
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The Charters of Freedom are the collective name for the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights
The Charters of Freedom is the collective name for three documents in early US history: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These documents are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States and have secured the rights of the American people for over two centuries.
The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for its separation from Great Britain. The condition of the parchment Declaration of Independence is a sign of the place it has held in the hearts of many Americans, having been worn and faded by years of public display.
The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. The Bill of Rights, meanwhile, is the first ten amendments to the Constitution, defining citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government.
The Charters of Freedom are housed in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. The Rotunda was designed by architect John Russell Pope as a shrine to American democracy and features a soaring domed ceiling. The Charters are displayed in bronze-framed, bombproof, moisture-controlled sealed display cases. They are flanked by two grand murals by Barry Faulkner, depicting fictional scenes of the "presentations" of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. One mural features Thomas Jefferson amidst the Continental Congress, while the other features James Madison at the Constitutional Convention.
The Charters of Freedom are available to view online through Founders Online, where thousands of documents and records related to the growth of American democracy and the birth of the Republic can be found.
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John Trumbull's painting of the Declaration hangs in the US Capitol Rotunda
The original United States Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights are kept in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, these documents establish the principles of the United States and have inspired Americans to pursue a more perfect union for almost 250 years.
The Declaration of Independence is a 12-by-18-foot oil-on-canvas painting by the American artist John Trumbull. It depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress. A smaller version of the painting (20.875 by 31 inches) is currently on view at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut.
Trumbull's painting of the Declaration of Independence hangs in the US Capitol Rotunda. The painting was commissioned after the exhibition of a smaller version of the same scene, which is now owned by the Yale University Art Gallery. The enlarged painting for the Rotunda was created between August 1817 and September 1818. It was exhibited in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before being displayed in the Capitol in 1819. In 1826, the painting was installed in the Rotunda, along with three other paintings by Trumbull.
The painting depicts the moment on June 28, 1776, when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Continental Congress. It shows the presentation of the papers by Thomas Jefferson and includes 47 figures, including Rufus Hopkins, who was included in place of his father, Stephen Hopkins, for whom no portrait was available. The painting has been depicted several times on United States currency and postage stamps.
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The Declaration was written to explain the separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain
The Declaration of Independence was written to explain the separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and the 13 American colonies officially severed their political ties with Great Britain. The Declaration was drafted by a committee comprising John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman.
The Declaration's second sentence, "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", is considered one of the most significant and well-known lines in world history. The document contains a list of 27 complaints against King George III, justifying the right to rebellion. It was designed to rally the troops, win foreign allies, and announce the formation of a new country.
The Declaration also served as a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation. The growing tensions between the colonies and Great Britain over taxation and frontier policies, as well as the failure of repeated protests to influence British policies, led to this decision.
The original Declaration of Independence is permanently housed in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, located in the National Archives. The Rotunda, designed by architect John Russell Pope, features an ornate domed ceiling and murals depicting the presentation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The document has undergone conservation treatments to preserve it for future generations.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution and Declaration of Independence are located in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
The Rotunda was designed by architect John Russell Pope as a shrine to American democracy. It features a soaring domed ceiling and two murals by Barry Faulkner, depicting fictional scenes of the "presentations" of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
The US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights are known collectively as the Charters of Freedom. These documents have secured the rights of the American people for over two centuries and are considered fundamental to the founding and philosophy of the United States.
The Declaration of Independence is the founding document of the United States. It expresses the ideals on which the nation was founded and explains why the Thirteen Colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states, no longer subject to British colonial rule.
