In the 1770's England's tyranny over her American subjects became so severe that concerned citzens in every colony talked of ways to end it. By 1776, talk had turned into action and delegates from the colonies met in Philadelphia to decide how best to win their rights from a jealous king. The events of that meeting and its results shook the world.

On June 7, Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution to the congress calling the colonies free and independent states. Immediately, five distinguished representatives were named to draw up a "declaration." To a young Thomas Jefferson fell the task of writing the draft of a document that was to become one of the most important in modern history — The Declaration of Independence.

On the first day of July, Jefferson's brilliant draft was presented to the delegates and for four days debate swirled around the congress. But Jefferson's draft, with few changes, was accepted and signed by all present on the fourth day.

CORNEL ADAM LENGYEL'S book is a dramatic account of those four days in July of 1776 that changed the course of history in America and the world.

From the dust jacket