A landmark in the history of American democracy collected in this elegant edition.With fifty-six signatures, one document changed the course of history. On July 4, 1776, representatives from the thirteen American colonies gathered in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence and form the United States of America. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the document declared that the thirteen American colonies would no longer recognize the monarch of Britain but would become independent states. In this luxurious Smithsonian edition, the Declaration of Independence and the writings that formed it are bound in a pocket-sized, faux-leather hardcover foil-stamped book that befits the significance of its contents. It features an illuminating introduction from the Smithsonian Institution, lending an important perspective from a leading voice and authority of American history. The Declaration of Independence is a symbol of freedom, a freedom that we celebrate every Independence Day with grand fanfare. Celebrate the founding of this nation with a gorgeous gift edition of the document that started it all.