The Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell

The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence, read it for free online at archive.org

“Everyone would agree the one and only Declaration of Independence deserves the best. After all, it’s at the heart of our country. But since it was signed in 1776, the Declaration has had as many ups and downs as the United States itself. It has been rolled up, copied, hidden away and traveled by horseback, sailing vessel, mail truck, railroad car and military tank. After being front and center of a new nation, it has escaped two British invasions and survived for more than two centuries of both peaceful times and devastating wars. What a journey! And it remains proudly the one and only Declaration of Independence.” (from the publisher)

Rescuing the Declaration of Independence

At the risk of being redundant with the previous book, this story focuses on what happened to the Declaration of Independence during the War of 1812.

Here is a read-aloud by the author:

Mumbet’s Declaration of Independence

We enjoyed adding this true story to our list of Declaration reads. Elizabeth Freeman, also called Mumbet, was born c1744.

“Everybody knows about the Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But the founders weren’t the only ones who believed that everyone had a right to freedom. Mumbet, a Massachusetts enslaved person, believed it too. She longed to be free, but how? Would anyone help her in her fight for freedom? Could she win against the richest man in town?

Mumbet’s Declaration of Independence tells her story for the first time in a picture book biography, and her brave actions set a milestone on the road toward ending slavery in the United States.” (from the publisher)

Her Name Was Mary Katharine: The Only Woman Whose Name is on the Declaration of Independence

This interesting biography introduces us to a strong and plucky woman. Mary Katharine ran printing presses in her brother’s stead and was the first postmaster of Baltimore and first female postmaster in the thirteen colonies.

“Born in 1738, Mary Katharine Goddard came of age in colonial Connecticut as the burgeoning nation prepared for the American Revolution. As a businesswoman and a newspaper publisher, Goddard paved the way for influential Revolutionary media. Her remarkable accomplishments as a woman defied societal norms and set the stage for a free and open press. When the Continental Congress decreed that the Declaration of Independence be widely distributed, one person rose to the occasion and printed the document—boldly inserting her name at the bottom with a printing credit: Mary Katharine Goddard.” (from the publisher)

The Hatmaker’s Sign, read it for free online at archive.org

Thomas Jefferson is discouraged by all the revisions to his original Declaration of Independence. This is a funny story that Benjamin Franklin tells him to comfort him. It’s based on an actual conversation that occurred between the two. The author’s note states “The original version of this story can be found in The Papers of Thomas Jefferson.“

Can We Ring the Liberty Bell?

Since we recently visited the Liberty Bell, this was a fun book to reinforce the details of its history. The Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) and the history of the Declaration of Independence are briefly mentioned.

“Do you know when the Liberty Bell was rung for the last time? Or why it has a huge crack? Join Mr. Chen’s class as they take a field trip to find out the facts about this important US symbol. Ranger Marcela explains who made the Liberty Bell, what words appear on it, and how it got its name.” (from the publisher)

Saving the Liberty Bell, read it for free online at archive.org

This is a fun story with cartoon-like illustrations about how the Liberty Bell was transported from Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. The book includes a historical note at the end.

“Some tall tales are actually true. This is a grand one, told with rightful pride by a boy who was there in the city of Philadelphia in 1777 and was lucky enough to play a role in the American Revolution…Megan McDonald has aptly caught John Jacob’s excited retelling of the story, and Marsha Gray Carrington has relished every wild and wooly moment of it in her pictures — both funny and carefully researched.” (from the publisher)

The Great Big Wagon That Rang: How the Liberty Bell Was Saved

This book is another take on the hiding of the Liberty Bell. The author writes in free verse and uses repetition to highlight the role of the Conestoga Wagon. This telling of the story does not include the wagon’s breaking down and the transfer of the bell to another wagon. The Author’s Note explains more about Conestoga Wagons and the hiding of Philadelphia’s bells in September 1777.

Saving the Liberty Bell, read it for free online at archive.org

This book is written for an independent intermediate reader (publisher’s recommendation: ages 7 to 10). There are illustrations throughout but the text is slightly dry. Compared to the first two books, this book provides a longer and a more thorough telling of the story. This book is part of the “On My Own History” series.

“Eleven-year-old Johnny Mickley longed to be a hero and have some part in helping America gain its independence. The British Army was just miles away from colonial Philadelphia, planning to invade the city and melt down all of its famous bells for cannons. The colonists were worried, they had to save the bells, especially Old Independence, now called the Liberty Bell. They finally came up with a plan – and Johnny got to help! But would it be enough to keep the bells safe?” (from the publisher)