You Want to Cite the Declaration of Independence? Hold Your Founding Father Horses...But How?
Ah, the Declaration of Independence. A cornerstone document, a rebellion in a quill, a party invitation that got a little out of hand (looking at you, King George). But now you need to cite this firecracker of a text in your paper, and Chicago style, that notorious stickler for details, has you scratching your head faster than Benjamin Franklin after a particularly electrifying experiment.
Fear not, fellow history buff/researcher extraordinaire! Buckle up, because we're about to untangle the mystery of citing America's birth certificate in Chicago style.
First Things First: You Don't Always Need a Fancy Bibliography Entry
That's right, folks. The Declaration is kind of a big deal, like the national anthem of citations. In most cases, you won't need a separate bibliography entry for it. Chicago style recognizes this document's, ahem, Declaration-ation of independence from the typical citation rules.
So, How Do I Actually Cite It Then?
Here's the beauty of it all: you can handle this with a simple in-text citation. Just throw this in your sentence, right after referencing the Declaration:
- (Declaration of Independence, 1776)
See? Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy.
Bonus points for pizazz: If you're feeling fancy (or want to avoid confusion with, say, the Declaration of Indulgence at your local bakery), you can add a little context:
- (The Second Continental Congress, in the Declaration of Independence, 1776, declared...)
But What If I'm Citing a Specific Part of the Declaration?
Now things get a tad more interesting. If you want to reference a particular paragraph or section, you can add that information after the year:
- (Declaration of Independence, para. 2, 1776)
Note: Chicago uses "para." for paragraph, not "par." We wouldn't want any spelling faux pas to sully the legacy of our Founding Fathers, would we?
Remember, Folks, There's Always Google
If you're ever unsure, a quick Google search with "Chicago citation Declaration of Independence" should point you in the right direction. There are also plenty of online citation generators that can be helpful in a pinch.
Now, go forth and conquer that research paper! Just remember, while the Founding Fathers may have revolted, there's no need to rebel against proper citation. Unless, of course, you're citing a particularly rebellious pastry. In that case, who are we to judge?
