U.S. Declaration of Independence: Difference between revisions

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imported>Richard Jensen
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| url=http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/frag.html
| url=http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/frag.html
| title=Transcription of the Fragment of the Composition Draft of the Declaration of Independence | accessdate=2007-08-04 }}</ref>
| title=Transcription of the Fragment of the Composition Draft of the Declaration of Independence | accessdate=2007-08-04 }}</ref>
Voting was by states and the Declaration was not unanimous on July 4 but became so a little later. On July 4, the New York delegation could not sign since its instructions to do so did not arrive until July 9. The original title referred to Twelve States. Several delegates were opposed at first but later signed.


[[Image:Declaration_of_independence_print02.jpg|thumb|400px]]
[[Image:Declaration_of_independence_print02.jpg|thumb|400px]]
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::  [[William Williams]]
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::  [[Oliver Wolcott]]
::  [[Oliver Wolcott]]
==Further reading==
* Becker
* Maier


== References ==
== References ==
<references/>
<references/>

Revision as of 01:15, 3 October 2007

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The Declaration of Independence, unanimously approved by the second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, created a new nation, the "United States of America." It formally "dissolved the connection" between the thirteen states which had acted as the "United Colonies" and Great Britain. July 4 is still celebrated as the nation's birthday.

The "Declaration Committee," which included Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York, and John Adams of Massachusetts, was appointed by Congress on June 11, 1776, to draft a declaration in anticipation of an expected vote in favor of American independence, which occurred on July 2. [1]

The primary author was Thomas Jefferson, selected by Adams and Franklin because he was the best writer. Early drafts exist dating to June 1776.[2]

Voting was by states and the Declaration was not unanimous on July 4 but became so a little later. On July 4, the New York delegation could not sign since its instructions to do so did not arrive until July 9. The original title referred to Twelve States. Several delegates were opposed at first but later signed.

Declaration of independence print02.jpg

Signers

There are 56 signatures on the declaration of independence [3]


Georgia
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton
North Carolina
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton
Massachusetts
John Hancock
Maryland
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton
Pennsylvania
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean
New York
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark
New Hampshire
Josiah Bartlett
Matthew Thornton
William Whipple
Massachusetts
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Connecticut
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott

Further reading

  • Becker
  • Maier

References