Download or read book Understanding The Declaration of Independence written by Stephanie Schwartz Driver and published by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. This book was released on 2010-08-15 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today's students all know what the Declaration of Independence is. One of the things they will discover in Understanding the Declaration of Independence is what a beautiful, powerful piece of writing it is, as they read Thomas Jefferson's rough draft in its entirety. They may also be surprised to learn that its authors intended the document as something like a press release to let people know that the Continental Congress had voted for independence. They never envisioned the document becoming a cornerstone of our modern, democratic nation. Readers will learn what effect the Declaration of Independence had on life at the time and how it polarized the people. A fascinating discussion on how the document is perceived today and its relevancy is also included.