WEBVTT

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50 YEARS AFTER THE
DECLARATION OF

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INDEPENDENCE WAS WRITTEN,
A GRAVELY ILL THOMAS

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JEFFERSON WROTE THE LAST
LETTER OF HIS LIFE.

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VERY APPROPRIATELY, HE
USED THE LETTER TO GIVE

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HIS THOUGHTS ON
THE DECLARATION OF

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INDEPENDENCE, IN
WHICH HE WROTE:

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MAY IT BE TO THE WORLD,
WHAT I BELIEVE IT WILL BE

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THE SIGNAL OF AROUSING MEN
TO BURST THE CHAINS AND TO

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ASSUME THE BLESSINGS
AND SECURITY OF

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SELF-GOVERNMENT.

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THAT FORM, WHICH WE
HAVE SUBSTITUTED,

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RESTORES THE FREE RIGHT TO
THE UNBOUNDED EXERCISE OF

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REASON AND FREEDOM
OF OPINION.

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ALL EYES ARE
OPENED, OR OPENING,

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TO THE RIGHTS OF MAN.

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...FOR OURSELVES, LET THE
ANNUAL RETURN OF THIS DAY

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FOREVER REFRESH OUR
RECOLLECTIONS OF THESE

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RIGHTS, AND AN
UNDIMINISHED DEVOTION TO

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THEM.

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LIVING IN A NATION MORE
THAN 200 YEARS AFTER THE

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ESTABLISHMENT OF
ITS INDEPENDENCE,

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IT CAN BE HARD TO
APPRECIATE THE FREEDOM

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WE'VE INHERITED AS
MUCH AS WE SHOULD.

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AS THE BENEFICIARIES
OF AMERICAN FREEDOM,

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WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET HOW
OUR FOREFATHERS FOUGHT SO

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PASSIONATELY TO MAKE OUR
COUNTRY WHAT IT IS TODAY.