This reading guide can be used to support reading David Armitage's essay, The Declaration of Independence's Influence Around the World, from the America at 250 Civic Toolkit.
The Declaration of Independence didn’t just launch the United States, it also became a model for people around the world fighting for freedom and self-government. In this essay, historian David Armitage explains how the Declaration worked both as America’s “birth certificate” and as an international announcement meant to win allies. You’ll explore how it was understood in 1776, how other countries reacted, and how its ideas have inspired movements from Haiti to Vietnam.
