Independence Declared and Translated

Richard Bell’s latest book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, is a global survey of the impact of America’s founding moment. It helps revisit the Declaration of Independence as a declaration of interdependence. Were it not for the multitudes of world actors each playing roles in the colonies’ break from Britain, the revolution would have been an isolated event of no particular consequence. One groups of actors deserves special mention, and an entire chapter, in Bell’s book.

The authors of the Declaration of Independence wisely decided to have it translated right away. After all, it was penned not so much for King George who already knew the Americans were gearing for independence, but for the kings of France and Spain in order to elicit their help. The first translation was in French and Thomas Jefferson undertook to write it himself.

Just a few months after July 4, 1776, the French copy of the Declaration of Independence arrived in France with envoys Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee. None of them spoke French particularly well, hence the importance of that written translation. It clearly paid off for the Americans.

Vast sums of money paid directly by the French king, and indirectly by countless French taxpayers, funded the American war effort. More French lives were lost fighting for American independence than soldiers born in the colonies. And not just one, but two French military officers—Lafayette and Rochambeau—helped General Washington and his army to victory.

It’s no exaggeration to say that if it weren’t for France, there might not be a United States of America.

Transcript of the original Declaration of Independence: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

Full text of the French translation: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/French-translation-U.S.-Declaration-of-Independence.pdf