The American Declaration of Independence adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia with the future 1st President of the United States of America, George Washington present. Original Artwork: Engraving after a painting by John Trumbull. (Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images)
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The wild weeks-long journey that broke news of US independence to Britain

This year, America marks 250 years since it declared independence from Britain. Today, that kind of breaking news would hit our phones in seconds but back in 1776 it took weeks for word of one of history’s biggest political break‑ups to cross the Atlantic. So how did Britain finally find out? CNN's James Frater went to the National Maritime Museum in London, where curators have unveiled a special display — including a rare handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, believed to be one of the very first documents to inform Britons of what had happened.

3:45 • Source: CNN
Fourth in America 10 videos
The American Declaration of Independence adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia with the future 1st President of the United States of America, George Washington present. Original Artwork: Engraving after a painting by John Trumbull. (Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images)
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The wild weeks-long journey that broke news of US independence to Britain
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