The household history of the United States and its people, for young Americans . e, and of right ought to be, free andindependent States; that they are absolved from allallegiance to the British crown, and that all politicalconnection between them and the state of Great Britainis, and ought to be, totally dissolved ; and that, as freeand independent States, they have full power to levywar, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish com-merce, and to do all other acts and things which inde-pendent States may of right do. This dignified andeloquent paper closes with these solemn words: Andfor
The household history of the United States and its people, for young Americans . e, and of right ought to be, free andindependent States; that they are absolved from allallegiance to the British crown, and that all politicalconnection between them and the state of Great Britainis, and ought to be, totally dissolved ; and that, as freeand independent States, they have full power to levywar, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish com-merce, and to do all other acts and things which inde-pendent States may of right do. This dignified andeloquent paper closes with these solemn words: Andfor the support of this declaration, with a firm relianceon the protection of Divine Providence, we mutuallypledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and oursacred honor. This immortal paper, perhaps the most famous statepaper in the world, was written by Thomas Jefferson,who was born near Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1743. Hisfather was a noted land-surveyor, and one of the authorsof a map of Virginia, and he left an ample fortune. THE OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION. 173 ?tt^-. Thomas was an eager student. He was graduated atWilliam and Mary College, and was soon recognized asperhaps the most accomplished general scholar in the col-onies. He was anexcellent mathe-matician, andknew Greek, Lat-in, French, Span-ish, and was al-most no knowl-edge that he wasnot eager to ac-quire. He was not gifted as an orator, but with hiseloquent pen he rendered great services to the cause ofliberty in America. He used his best endeavor to haveslavery and the slave-trade abolished. He took the leadin the repeal of the colonial laws that gave to the oldestson the largest share of the fathers property. He wasalso the leader in separating church and state, and giv-ing to the people religious freedom. To him we owethe change of our money from pounds, shillings, andpence to a simple decimal system of dollars, dimes, andcents. To him, also, was due at a later period the pur-chase from Fran
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