British archive reveals rare copy of US Declaration of Independence

A rare copy of the United States Declaration of Independence has been found at the United Kingdom's National Archives in London by a volunteer archivist.

Considered to be the only known copy of its type outside American territory, the document came to light just as the country celebrates, this Saturday (4), 250 years of independence.

According to the British agency PA Media, it is a print produced in 1776 in the city of Exeter, in the state of New Hampshire, with the aim of spreading the news of independence to the other British colonies. The document remained hidden in the British archives for centuries.

The person responsible for the discovery was volunteer Michael Scurr, who found the document while analyzing materials from the collection.

Scurr said that when he opened the manuscript, he saw the word "Declaration" in large letters at the top of the page and realized he had found something unusual.

Scurr stated that he had to keep the discovery secret for several weeks so that historians could analyze and confirm the authenticity of the document. He also said that he immediately called his supervisor when he realized the relevance of the find.

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The discovery is released by CNN International on the same day that the United States celebrates 250 years of independence from British rule.

In an interview with Agora CNN, professor João Carlos Souto, author of the book *Supreme Court of the United States: Main Decisions*, stated that the independence process was preceded by an intense political and cultural debate in the 13 British colonies in America.

According to Souto, dissatisfaction with the tax increase imposed by the British Parliament fueled a feeling of injustice that culminated in the publication of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and signed in Philadelphia, the document exerted influence on political movements in other countries, including the Inconfidência Mineira.

The professor also highlighted that the Declaration of Independence directly influenced the United States Constitution, concluded in 1787. For him, it was from this text that principles such as the separation of Powers, federalism and presidentialism began to be applied in a concrete way, consolidating institutions that remain a reference to this day.

When commenting on contemporary challenges to American institutions, Souto stated that the Supreme Court has resisted initiatives by President Donald Trump that he considers incompatible with the Constitution. According to the expert, this institutional functioning represents the continuity of the principles established by the Declaration of Independence of 1776 and the Constitution of 1787.

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Source: CNN