The lasting lessons of independence - BostonHerald.com

"Sadly, many Americans do not know that what we celebrate today is the 235th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Quick: What was the purpose of this founding document?

A) To establish the new government of the United States;

B) To proclaim that the colonies would no longer let England control them;

C) To give all free men in America the right to vote;

D) To declare the right of free speech in the American colonies.

The correct answer, of course, is B.

But if you answered incorrectly, you are not alone. According to recently released data from the National Association of Educational Progress (known as “the Nation’s Report Card”), two-thirds of American fourth-graders and almost three-quarters of American eighth-graders can’t identify the Declaration’s purpose."

The lasting lessons of independence - BostonHerald.com