Declaration of Independence
 

On Jul 3, 6:05*pm, Oren wrote:
Have a good day tomorrow.

"Subjects."

That's what Thomas Jefferson first wrote in an early draft of the
Declaration of Independence to describe the people of the 13 colonies.
"...Over the smudge, Jefferson then wrote the word "citizens."

"Dr. Fenella France, a research chemist at the Library of Congress,
shows recent imaging of the document. (Susan Walsh - AP)"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...10/07/02/AR201...

Another thing most Americans don't realize: The Declaration did not
originally read:

"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". It was "Life, Liberty
and Property".
Wonder who wanted it changed, and why. Must research this when I get
a break.
Anybody know?

Declaration of Independence
 

Higgs Boson wrote:
-snip-

Another thing most Americans don't realize:

Good for 'most Americans". they are correct.g

The Declaration did not
originally read:

"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". It was "Life, Liberty
and Property".
Wonder who wanted it changed, and why. Must research this when I get
a break.
Anybody know?

The Declaration *always*, from Jefferson's first draft, said 'pursuit
of happiness'.

The *1st* Continental congress, in 1774 made a declaration that used
the term 'property'. Franklin argued against it being used in 1776.
[he was in France for the 1st go-around & on the committee for the
Declaration of Independence]

Jim

Declaration of Independence
 

Jim Elbrecht wrote:
-snip-

The *1st* Continental congress, in 1774 made a declaration that used
the term 'property'. Franklin argued against it being used in 1776.
[he was in France for the 1st go-around & on the committee for the
Declaration of Independence]


My wording there is misleading.
I think Franklin was in France in 1774 when the 1st CC met.
In 1776 he was on the committee [with Jefferson, Adams, Livingston and
Sherman] that drafted the Declaration.

Jim

Declaration of Independence
 

"Higgs Boson" wrote in message
...
On Jul 3, 6:05 pm, Oren wrote:
Have a good day tomorrow.

"Subjects."

That's what Thomas Jefferson first wrote in an early draft of the
Declaration of Independence to describe the people of the 13 colonies.
"...Over the smudge, Jefferson then wrote the word "citizens."

"Dr. Fenella France, a research chemist at the Library of Congress,
shows recent imaging of the document. (Susan Walsh - AP)"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...10/07/02/AR201...

Another thing most Americans don't realize: The Declaration did not
originally read:

"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". It was "Life, Liberty
and Property".
Wonder who wanted it changed, and why. Must research this when I get
a break.
Anybody know?

I read it was Ben Franklin that suggested the change because he realized
that taxation on property ownership was going to be necessary to finance the
federal government. So he suggested something that was immune from taxation
to replace the word "property" and be more in line with life and liberty.
But there are all sorts of other theories, too. I mean the government can
take both your life and your liberty - although so far, neither is taxed.

bg