On this date in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, marking the United States’ formal declaration of independence from Great Britain. However, a significant detail often discussed is that a section of the original draft, written by Thomas Jefferson, included a strong condemnation of the slave trade.

This portion criticized King George III for imposing the slave trade on the American colonies, describing it as an “execrable commerce.” However, due to pressure from delegates, especially from southern colonies where slavery was an integral part of the economy, this part was removed from the final version of the document.

The removal reflected the deep divisions within the colonies over the issue of slavery, a topic that would continue to play a central role in American history, leading to the Civil War nearly a century later.