(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
The Declaration of Independence helped establish the UnitedStates as a new nation. So did the Constitution and the Bill ofRights. The National Archives and Records Administration is againshowing these historic documents in its building in Washington, D-C.I’m Faith Lapidus.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Steve Ember. We tell about these important documents onTHIS IS AMERICA from VOA Special English.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
Until two years ago, America’s most important historic documentswere moved for their safety. At night, mechanical devices placed theDeclaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rightsin an underground container. The next day, the documents were liftedback to the place where the public could see them. Their home was abeautiful area of the National Archives building called the Rotundafor the Charters of Freedom.
But many visitors said the glasscontainers made the documents hard to see. Experts also worried thatthe condition of the very old documents was worsening. The documentswere signed in the seventeen-hundreds.
VOICE TWO:
In July, two-thousand-one, the government began improving theNational Archives. The project includes structural changes and theaddition of new public areas. The project costs millions of dollarsand probably will continue until the end of two-thousand-five.
After the work began, the research area of the Archives buildingremained open. But the Rotunda area was closed for restoration formore than two years.
VOICE ONE:
Today, however, crowds of people again gather at the Rotunda towalk by the documents, as they did in earlier years. It is mucheasier to see the documents now than before. Experts have cleanedand partly restored them. They have also improved the cases in whichthey are contained.
Last month, thousands of people attended celebrations for thenewly restored home of the historic papers. These “papers” arereally parchments – specially treated animal skins. Officials saythe best of modern technology has been used to extend the lives ofthe documents. For example, devices in the cases measure thetemperature, humidity and pressure inside. Argon gas helps protectthe parchments.
A special structure makes it possible for people in wheelchairsand small children to easily see the documents.
VOICE TWO:
The central point of the restored Rotunda is the United StatesConstitution. Officials placed the document in a case in the middleof the room. Before the improvement, visitors could see only twopages of the Constitution. Now they can see all four. On the left ofthe Constitution is the Declaration of Independence. On the right isthe Bill of Rights.
Before the Rotunda was changed,the Declaration of Independence hung on the wall. It was not veryclose to the other documents. People said it was hard to see. Nowexperts have placed the cases in positions designed for easierreading.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
Thomas Jefferson wrote the first version of the powerfulDeclaration of Independence in June, seventeen-seventy-six. Itannounced separation of the thirteen American colonies from Britain.Continental Congress members approved the Declaration on July Fourthof that year.
VOICE TWO:
After the colonists won the Revolutionary War and gained theirindependence, delegates were chosen to write rules to establish agovernment for the new nation. Constitutional Convention membersworked out the agreement beginning in May, seventeen-eighty-seven.It was signed on September seventeenth of that year. Historians saythe Constitution created the new United States from the spirit ofthe American Revolution.
The Constitution established astrong central government. It called for this government to havethree parts, or branches. The president was to lead the executivebranch. Congress formed the legislative branch. The courts formedthe judicial branch. The Constitution also called for each branch toexercise some control over the others. These checks and balancesprotect against any one branch becoming too powerful. More thantwo-hundred years later, the United States still operates under thissystem.
VOICE ONE:
Early American legislators added the Bill of Rights to theConstitution in seventeen-ninety-one. House of RepresentativesSpeaker Frederick A. Muhlenberg signed the document first. SenatePresident John Adams signed it soon after.
The Bill of Rights contains the first ten amendments to theConstitution. It guarantees Americans several important freedoms:These include freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. Freedom of thepress. Freedom to gather to express opinions. Today, the SupremeCourt of the United States hears many cases that are linked to theBill of Rights.
(MUSIC)
VOICE TWO:
Visitors to the National Archives also can see other importantdocuments in the Rotunda. For example, there is the agreementpermitting the largest land purchase in American history. It iscalled the Louisiana Purchase Treaty. This let the United States buymore than two-million square kilometers of land from France ineighteen-oh-three. The land extended from west of the MississippiRiver to the Rocky Mountains and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.Two historical paintings hang above the documents. The picture onthe left shows Thomas Jefferson. He is giving a version of theDeclaration of Independence to John Hancock, the first person tosign the document. The picture on the right shows James Madisongiving the Constitution to George Washington, America’s firstpresident.
VOICE ONE:
The work on the document area is only part of the majorimprovement project at the National Archives. For example, exhibitspaces called public vaults will be added. The vaults will letvisitors walk through areas where records are kept. Another specialarea, a gallery, will show temporary exhibits.
The National Archives will open a learning center and a theaterfor films and other presentations. Officials also plan to improvethe Archives Web site, w-w-w dot archives dotg-o-v.(www.archives.gov) This will enable people to visit theArchives by computer. They also will be able to connect to Archiverecords.
(MUSIC)
VOICE TWO:
Ceremonies, music and dramatizations were held at the Rotundaopening last month. For example, actors representing historicalpeople welcomed visitors. People could question the actors aboutAmerican heroes like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. A smallboy from the state of Oklahoma asked about President Washington’sheight. The actor performing as George Washington answered thatWashington stood taller than one-point-eight meters.
At the same time, the actor playing Thomas Jefferson was talkingto a young girl from Baltimore, Maryland. He described how Jeffersondesigned Monticello, his Virginia home. After writing theDeclaration of Independence, Jefferson served as America’s thirdpresident. He was also known for his skill as an inventor, designerand farmer.
VOICE ONE:
Another actor took the part of black Revolutionary War soldierEdward Hector. He told what it was like to fight in the American Warof Independence. Black people were given freedom for joining theAmerican colonial troops.
Ned Hector was a hero of the Battle of Brandywine inPennsylvania. The battle took place in September,seventeen-seventy-five. Hector was attacked by many British troops.He reportedly said he would never surrender his horses and wagon.When the battle ended, he had survived. And, he still had his horsesand wagon.
VOICE TWO:
One of the first visitors to the newly re-opened document exhibitwas a high school teacher from the state of Oklahoma. Beforeleaving, the teacher stopped to look back at the Rotunda. She said,”This place helped me remember how hard people struggled to createthis country.”
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
This program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced byCaty Weaver. I’m Faith Lapidus.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Steve Ember. Join us again next week for another reportabout life in the United States on THIS IS AMERICA from VOA SpecialEnglish.
(MUSIC)