In the summer of 1776, Thomas Jefferson was writing what came to be one of America’s most important and famous documents—the Declaration of Independence. It announced that the 13 American colonies were free from British rule. But there’s more behind the Declaration’s faded parchment paper and ink. Young readers will be fascinated as they discover details about the Declaration’s creation, its impact around the world, and what the symbolic document means today. Infographics, activities, sidebars, and historical photos help to push student understanding beyond the basics.