Where can I find a modern and easy to understand version of the Declaration of Independence?
952390
There's only one version I know of.  The original copy is in Washington, DC.  I'm sure you can find the text through a Google search.
124975
http://www.lcbp.org/ATLAS/HTML/so_historic.htm\n\nThis is a pretty good US map.
801116
Online Speech Bank\n\nIndex to and growing database of 5000+ full text, audio and video (streaming) versions of public speeches, sermons, legal proceedings, lectures, debates, interviews, other recorded media events, and a declaration or two.\n\nhttp://www.democracy.gov/dd/democracy_dialogues/keydocs/gandhi.html\n\nhttp://www.americanrhetoric.com/\n\nhttp://www.americanrhetoric.com/speechbank.htm\n\nhttp://www.speech-topics-help.com/good-persuasive-speech-topics.html\n\nhttp://www.historyplace.com/speeches/previous.htm\n\nhttp://library.albany.edu/usered/dr/speech.html\n\nhttp://www.history.com/media.do\n\nhttp://yahooligans.yahoo.com/school_bell/social_studies/history/speeches/\n\nGood luck.\n\nKevin, Liverpool, England.
200614
Read the constitution it's explained
554737
http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration.html
345036
Declaration of Independence and The US Constitution, respectively.
425007
There's not really a book that would be much of a Declaration of Independence, especially since it's not said what they are independent of. If you want to seperate them from Judaism, the seperation would be the entire New Testament. If you're referring to an independence from other religions, the entire "Holy Bible" would be the Declaration you're looking for. There is no book that contains everything needed to be said, that's why all 66 of them are in there. You'll just have to read the entire to find out just how different Christianity is from other beliefs.
1104834
Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. \n\nAs you rightly pointed out, the Declaration of Independence was not officially signed until August of 1776
822054
You just have to read each of the amendments, and do it yourself. Then look on line for summaries and explanations, (search "bill of rights", "US constitution")then just rephrase.
292452
Though the Fourth of July is almost iconic to Americans, some claim the date itself is somewhat arbitrary. New Englanders had been fighting Britain since April 1775. The first motion in the Continental Congress for independence was made on June 8. After hard debate, the Congress voted unanimously (12-0), but secretly, for independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain on July 2. The Congress reworked the text of the Declaration until a little after eleven o'clock, July 4th, when twelve colonies voted for adoption and released an unsigned copy to the printers. (New York abstained from both votes.) Philadelphia celebrated the Declaration with public readings and bonfires on July 8. Not until August 2 would a fair printing be signed by the members of the Congress, but even that was kept secret to protect the members from British reprisal.
130855
here you go:\nhttp://www.constitutioncenter.org/PressRoom/ImageDownloadCenter/index.shtml\n You can download a text version of it or images of the whole original!
707968
1. a. Declaration of Independance\n    b. Articles of the confederation\n    c. Bill of Rights\n    d. Constitution\n  (these are a few of them)\n\n2. a. Alexander Hamilton \n    b. Ben Franklin\n    c. George Washington\n    d.James McHenry\n    e. David Brearley
789802
Go back to our roots.   The Declaration of Independence, Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  \n\nWe were founded by rebels who wanted free religion seperate from government and declared it a basic human right to pursue happiness in equality with all.\n\nOur beginning is quite beautiful...we have fallen off the road somehow.  Jefferson said when Capitalism surpasses Democracy we will become  disfunctional. ...Guess what?
755059
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_States
1096702
I wouldn't normally do this, but it's a complicated question with no easy answer. It's a basic combination of a devolpment of already existing philosphy and personal experience. I'd suggest reading the following Wikipedia entries, and going from there:\nThomas Paine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Paine\nJohn Locke: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke\n\nThe question brings up a complicated debate about the Enlightenment and the American War of Indepedence, intertwined with philosphy, sociology and history. How much information you need depends on what level you're currently studying at. The articles above are a good starting point for any investigation.
498962
From The Declaration Of Independence\n\nThe unanimous Declaration of the United States of America,\n \nWhen in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.\n \n--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. \n\n-But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.-\n\nFrom The Constitution of the United States:\n\nArticle. I.\nSection. 8.\nTo provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;\nTo provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, \nand for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, \nthe Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;\n\nSection. 9.\nThe Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.\n\nSection. 4.\nThe United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened), AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE\n\nFrom The BILL Of RIGHTS\n\nAmendment II\nA well regulated militia, being necessary to the Security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. \n\nAmendment X\nThe powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, \nnor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or TO THE PEOPLE \n\n\nShould American Citizens take arms up against ILLEGAL\nAliens? \nAnd Force them from our country? \n\nIf Our Government Doesnt Resolve This\nWe May Have To (Article 1 - Sections 8 and 9)\nIt Is Our RIGHT And Our DUTY As American Citizens \nTo DEFEND Our Nation Against Invaders\n\nAs It Is Our RIGHT And Our DUTY \nTo Remove The GOVERNMENT\nWhen Our Government Is Not Acting In The Best Interest Of Our Nation (Article 1 - Section 4)\n\nThats When Amendments 2 and 10 Come Into Play\n\nDont Believe Me??? Read The Words I Typed Above ^
611807
Washington DC~see the last line of the proclamation...\nhttp://homeofheros.com/presidents/speeches/lincoln_emancipation.html