Recently, the Declaration of Independence took a trip out to New Jersey as part of our Pearson/Mock Election Tour. The trip coincided with “New Jersey Day” – the 345th anniversary of New Jersey’s founding as a British colony.
In honor of the occasion, the State Archives brought a treasure out from their own holdings – the state charter. This document, dated June 24, 1664, and signed by James, Duke of York, granted two noblemen a charter of land in the colonies.
The New Jersey Charter - or "New Jersey's Birth Certificate" - awarded the original land grant for the Garden State
For the duration of our trip, the two documents – the “state’s birth certificate” and the “country’s birth certificate” lay side by side for residents of New Jersey to see.
Check out the Student Mock Election’s coverage of the event:
Also take a peek at our Flickr pictures of the birthday celebration and don’t miss the one where Governor Corzine cuts the cake and accidentally gets some frosting on his suit!
