Whether or not you are a scholar writing a historical past paper or a lawyer drafting a authorized transient, citing the Declaration of Independence is crucial to offer credit score to the supply of your data. The Declaration of Independence is a historic doc that was signed on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress. It declared the 13 American colonies’ independence from Nice Britain. Citing the Declaration of Independence appropriately will assist your reader discover the unique doc and confirm your data.
To quote the Declaration of Independence, you will want to incorporate the next data:
- The title of the doc: “The Declaration of Independence”
- The date the doc was signed: July 4, 1776
- The placement the place the doc was signed: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The writer of the doc: The Continental Congress
You may cite the Declaration of Independence in a wide range of codecs, relying on the type information you’re utilizing. For instance, the next are two frequent quotation codecs:
- MLA format: “The Declaration of Independence.” Nationwide Archives, 4 July 1776, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
- Chicago Handbook of Type format: “The Declaration of Independence,” in The Papers of the Continental Congress, vol. 5, ed. John P. Kaminski and Gaspare J. Saladino (Washington, D.C.: Authorities Printing Workplace, 2003), 493-95.
Figuring out the Appropriate Quotation Methodology
To quote the Declaration of Independence in a tutorial or authorized context, it’s essential to pick the suitable quotation type. There are a number of broadly used kinds, together with the Chicago Handbook of Type, the Fashionable Language Affiliation (MLA) type, and the American Psychological Affiliation (APA) type. Every type has its personal particular algorithm for formatting citations, so you will need to adhere to the type required by the publication or establishment.
If no particular type is specified, it’s typically advisable to make use of the Chicago Handbook of Type. The Chicago Handbook of Type is essentially the most complete and broadly used quotation type within the social sciences and humanities. It supplies detailed pointers for citing a wide range of sources, together with historic paperwork such because the Declaration of Independence.
The next desk summarizes the important thing parts of the Chicago Handbook of Type quotation for the Declaration of Independence:
| Ingredient | Format |
|---|---|
| Title | The Declaration of Independence |
| Creator | Thomas Jefferson |
| Date | July 4, 1776 |
| Supply | The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, edited by Julian P. Boyd (Princeton College Press, 1950), vol. 1, pp. 272-278. |
| Quotation | Jefferson, Thomas. The Declaration of Independence. In The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, edited by Julian P. Boyd. Vol. 1. Princeton College Press, 1950, pp. 272-278. |
Utilizing Chicago Handbook of Type Citations
Parenthetical Citations
Throughout the textual content, the Declaration of Independence could be cited parenthetically by writer (United States) and yr (1776). For instance: “The Declaration of Independence was written by the USA in 1776 (United States, 1776).” If the writer’s identify isn’t talked about within the textual content, merely use the yr in parentheses: “The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 (1776).” Use a shortened title for subsequent references: “Declaration of Independence,” with out the yr.
Notes and Bibliography Citations
| Notice type | Bibliography type |
|---|---|
| 1. United States, Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, Founders On-line, Nationwide Archives and Information Administration, https://founders.archives.gov/paperwork/Declaration. | United States. Declaration of Independence. July 4, 1776. Founders On-line. Nationwide Archives and Information Administration. https://founders.archives.gov/paperwork/Declaration. |
Prolonged Citations for Completely different Codecs
When citing the Declaration of Independence in an prolonged type, comparable to in a footnote or bibliography entry, observe these particular pointers:
-
Printed Model:
United States. Declaration of Independence. United States Statutes at Massive, vol. 1, p. 1. Washington, DC: Authorities Printing Workplace, 1845.
-
On-line Model:
United States. Declaration of Independence. July 4, 1776. Founders On-line, Nationwide Archives and Information Administration. https://founders.archives.gov/paperwork/Declaration.
-
PDF Model:
United States. Declaration of Independence. July 4, 1776. The Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/useful resource/ihas.10060/.
-
Picture File:
United States. Declaration of Independence. July 4, 1776. Picture file. The Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/useful resource/ihas.10060/.
Citing in Bluebook Citations
The Bluebook is a authorized quotation type that’s broadly utilized in the USA. When citing the Declaration of Independence in Bluebook format, the next format ought to be used:
Declaration of Independence, U.S. 1 (1776).
The next desk supplies a breakdown of the quotation parts:
| Ingredient | Description |
|---|---|
| Declaration of Independence | The title of the doc |
| U.S. | The abbreviation for the USA |
| 1 | The web page quantity (if relevant) |
| (1776) | The yr of publication |
Along with the fundamental quotation, the Bluebook additionally supplies numerous elective parts that may be included, such because the writer, the date of entry, and the situation of the doc. For instance, the next quotation contains the writer and the date of entry:
Declaration of Independence, by Thomas Jefferson, U.S. 1 (1776), obtainable at https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript (final accessed on July 4, 2023).
In-Textual content Quotation for the Declaration of Independence
When citing the Declaration of Independence within the textual content of your paper, use the next format:
(Declaration of Independence, Date)
For instance:
The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that “all males are created equal” (Declaration of Independence, 1776).
In-Textual content Quotation with Particular Paragraph
In case you are citing a selected paragraph from the Declaration of Independence, use the next format:
(Declaration of Independence, Paragraph Quantity)
For instance:
The Declaration of Independence states that “the historical past of the current King of Nice Britain is a historical past of repeated accidents and usurpations” (Declaration of Independence, Paragraph 1).
In-Textual content Quotation with A number of Paragraphs
In case you are citing a number of paragraphs from the Declaration of Independence, separate the paragraph numbers with commas:
(Declaration of Independence, Paragraph Numbers 1, 2)
In-Textual content Quotation with Particular Clauses
In case you are citing a selected clause from the Declaration of Independence, use the next format:
(Declaration of Independence, Clause Quantity)
For instance:
The Declaration of Independence states that “all males are entitled to sure unalienable Rights” (Declaration of Independence, Clause 2).
In-Textual content Quotation with A number of Clauses
In case you are citing a number of clauses from the Declaration of Independence, separate the clause numbers with commas:
(Declaration of Independence, Clause Numbers 1, 2)
Normal Data
When citing the Declaration of Independence, it’s important to stick to particular formatting pointers. The next sections present detailed directions on appropriately cite this historic doc in numerous codecs, together with the Works Cited or Reference Web page.
Works Cited or Reference Web page Format
The formatting of the Works Cited or Reference Web page entry for the Declaration of Independence varies relying on the quotation type used. Listed here are the most typical kinds:
MLA (Fashionable Language Affiliation)
Declaration of Independence. National Archives, Nationwide Archives and Information Administration, 4 July 1776, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript.
Chicago Handbook of Type
United States. Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776. National Archives, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript.
APA (American Psychological Affiliation)
| Declaration of Independence | (1776, July 4). Nationwide Archives and Information Administration. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript |
Citing Particular Sections or Paragraphs
When citing a selected part or paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, you will need to embrace the next data:
- The paragraph quantity: The Declaration is split into 14 paragraphs, every of which is numbered consecutively.
- The particular sentence(s) or phrase(s) that you’re citing: This ought to be as particular as doable, together with the primary and final phrase of the quoted materials.
Instance
To quote the primary sentence of the second paragraph, you’ll use the next format:
Declaration of Independence, paragraph 2, sentence 1
Desk of Paragraph Numbers
| Paragraph Quantity | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Preamble |
| 2 | The assertion of pure rights |
| 3 | The record of grievances towards the King |
| 4 | The declaration of independence |
| 5-13 | The particular causes for declaring independence |
| 14 | The signatories and their declaration of fact |
Extra Data
When citing particular sections or paragraphs, additionally it is necessary to make use of a constant quotation type. The most typical quotation kinds for the Declaration of Independence are:
- MLA (Fashionable Language Affiliation)
- APA (American Psychological Affiliation)
- Chicago Handbook of Type
Every quotation type has its personal particular guidelines for formatting citations. Seek the advice of your chosen quotation type information for extra data.
Frequent Quotation Errors
When citing the Declaration of Independence, there are a number of frequent errors that ought to be prevented:
1. Incorrect Title Capitalization
The title ought to be capitalized as follows: “The Declaration of Independence”.
2. Lacking or Incorrect Date
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. This date ought to be included within the quotation (e.g., “Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776”).
3. Lack of Citation Marks
The title ought to be positioned in citation marks when included in a sentence (e.g., “Thomas Jefferson wrote the “Declaration of Independence””).
4. Incomplete or Incorrect Location
The Declaration of Independence was adopted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This location ought to be included within the quotation (e.g., “Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania”).
5. Lacking or Incorrect Publication Data
The Declaration of Independence was revealed in numerous kinds. The particular publication data ought to be included within the quotation (e.g., “Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, The Pennsylvania Gazette, August 2, 1776″).
6. Inaccurate Creator Attribution
Thomas Jefferson is credited with writing the Declaration of Independence. This attribution ought to be included within the quotation (e.g., “Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776”).
7. Lacking Sign Phrase
When referencing the Declaration of Independence in a sentence, you will need to use a sign phrase to introduce the quotation (e.g., “Within the “Declaration of Independence,” Thomas Jefferson wrote that…”).
8. Incorrect Format
There are a number of quotation kinds that can be utilized for the Declaration of Independence. The next desk outlines the important thing parts for every type:
| Quotation Type | Format |
|---|---|
| MLA | Creator’s final identify, web page quantity (in parentheses). |
| Chicago | Creator’s final identify, first identify(s). “Title.” Publication title, quantity, quantity (date), web page vary. |
| APA | Creator’s final identify(s), first identify(s). (12 months). Title. Writer. |
Utilizing On-line Sources for Quotation Data
When citing on-line sources, you will need to present as a lot data as doable to establish the supply. This contains the URL, the date the web page was accessed, and the writer or group answerable for the content material. For the Declaration of Independence, a number of respected on-line sources can be utilized to acquire quotation data.
Nationwide Archives
The Nationwide Archives web site supplies a digital copy of the Declaration of Independence, together with an in depth description of the doc’s historical past and significance. The web site additionally contains quotation data for the Declaration of Independence in numerous codecs, together with MLA, Chicago, and APA.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress web site supplies a digital copy of the Declaration of Independence, in addition to a wealth of extra details about the doc. The web site additionally contains quotation data for the Declaration of Independence in numerous codecs.
The Avalon Undertaking at Yale Legislation College
The Avalon Undertaking at Yale Legislation College supplies a digital copy of the Declaration of Independence, together with a set of different historic paperwork associated to American historical past. The web site additionally contains quotation data for the Declaration of Independence in numerous codecs.
Wikipedia
Whereas Wikipedia isn’t at all times thought of essentially the most dependable supply for educational analysis, it may be a helpful start line for locating details about the Declaration of Independence. The Wikipedia web page for the Declaration of Independence features a record of references that can be utilized to search out extra dependable sources.
Google Scholar
Google Scholar is a search engine that enables customers to search out scholarly articles and different educational sources. Google Scholar can be utilized to search out articles that cite the Declaration of Independence, which may present extra data and context for the doc.
JSTOR
JSTOR is a digital library of educational journals. JSTOR can be utilized to search out articles that cite the Declaration of Independence, which may present extra data and context for the doc.
ProQuest
ProQuest is a digital library of dissertations and theses. ProQuest can be utilized to search out dissertations and theses that cite the Declaration of Independence, which may present extra data and context for the doc.
When citing the Declaration of Independence from a web based supply, you will need to select a good supply and to supply as a lot data as doable to establish the supply. The next desk supplies a abstract of the data that ought to be included in a quotation for the Declaration of Independence from a web based supply:
| Ingredient | Data |
|---|---|
| Title | The Declaration of Independence |
| Creator | Thomas Jefferson |
| Date | July 4, 1776 |
| URL | https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript |
| Date Accessed | [Date you accessed the page] |
Tips on how to Correctly Cite The Declaration of Independence
In-text citations
When citing the Declaration of Independence within the textual content of your paper, you need to use a shortened type of the title, comparable to “Declaration of Independence” or “DOI.” The DOI ought to be italicized and adopted by the yr of publication, which is 1776. For instance:
“The Declaration of Independence (1776) states that each one males are created equal.”
Footnotes or endnotes
In case you are utilizing footnotes or endnotes, you need to present a full quotation of the DOI. The next is an instance of a full quotation:
Declaration of Independence. U.S. Nationwide Archives and Information Administration, 1776, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript.
Bibliography
In case you are utilizing a bibliography, you need to embrace the DOI in your record of sources. The next is an instance of a bibliography entry for the DOI:
Declaration of Independence. U.S. Nationwide Archives and Information Administration, 1776, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript.
Extra Assets for Correct Quotation
The next sources might help you to make sure that you’re citing the Declaration of Independence appropriately:
| Useful resource | Hyperlink |
|---|---|
| The U.S. Nationwide Archives and Information Administration’s web site on the Declaration of Independence | www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript |
| The Library of Congress’s web site on the Declaration of Independence | www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/DeclarInd.html |
| The Nationwide Archives’ web site on the Declaration of Independence | www.archives.gov/matters/founding-documents/declaration |
How To Correctly Cite The Declaration Of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is a foundational doc in American historical past, and it’s usually cited in educational {and professional} writing. When citing the Declaration of Independence, you will need to observe the right format to be able to make sure that your quotation is correct and full. The next are the steps on correctly cite the Declaration of Independence:
- Use the total title of the doc. The total title of the Declaration of Independence is “The unanimous Declaration of the 13 united States of America”.
- Embody the date of publication. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, and it was signed on August 2, 1776.
- Present the situation of the doc. The Declaration of Independence is positioned within the Nationwide Archives in Washington, D.C.
- Use the right quotation type. The most typical quotation type is the MLA type, which requires the next format: Title of doc. Date of publication. Location. For instance, the quotation for the Declaration of Independence in MLA type can be: “The unanimous Declaration of the 13 united States of America”. 4 July 1776. Nationwide Archives, Washington, D.C.
Individuals Additionally Ask
How do you cite the Declaration of Independence in an essay?
When citing the Declaration of Independence in an essay, you need to use the next format:
(Declaration of Independence, 1776)
What’s the brief quotation for the Declaration of Independence?
The brief quotation for the Declaration of Independence is: (Declaration of Independence)
The place can I discover a copy of the Declaration of Independence?
Yow will discover a duplicate of the Declaration of Independence on-line on the Nationwide Archives web site: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
