In an event of historic coincidence, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4,1826: the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It is rumored that late in the afternoon before John Adams died, unaware of the passing of Jefferson, he said “Thomas Jefferson survives.” Brief but detail-rich biographies of all the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Declaration of Independence, document approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, that announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain. On July 2 the Congress had resolved that ‘these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States.’ The U.S. Declaration of Independence, adopted July 4, 1776, was the first formal statement by a nation's people asser About the Signers of the Declaration of Independence Connecticut • Delaware • Georgia • Maryland • Massachusetts • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New York • North Carolina • Pennsylvania • South Carolina • Rhode Island • Virginia All of the colonies were represented in Philadelphia to consider the delicate case for independence and to change the course of the war. In all John Hancock (1737-1793) • State: Massachusetts Hancock, a Massachusetts native who studied business at Harvard College, was the first man to sign the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence is the foundational document of the United States of America. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it explains why the Thirteen Colonies decided to separate from Great Information obtained from: American Council of Learned Societies. American National Biography. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Who Was Who in America: Historical Volume 1607-1896. Chicago: The A.N. Marquis Company, 1963. Born on April 13, 1743, near present-day Charlottesville, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson was the primary drafter of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States. Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original. Welcome to ushistory.org's Declaration of Independence website, providing a wealth of information about the Declaration, biographies of all the signers, lesson plans for introducing students to the colonial and revolutionary eras of American history, and much more. Where is the original Declaration? The original Declaration is now exhibited in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in The signers of the Declaration of Independence are characterized here, and we have also listed each person below in alphabetical order, followed by their age at the time the Declaration was signed. On July 4, 1776, the United States officially declared its independence from the British Empire when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was authored by a “Committee of Five”—John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman—with Jefferson as the main drafter. But Jefferson himself later admitted Learn who signed the Declaration of Independence and when they voted for independence. See the alphabetical list of 56 delegates to the Continental Congress who put their names to the document. Learn about the date, location, participants, and significance of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776. Find out why the signers risked their lives and fortunes to declare independence from Great Britain. From the DAR Americana Collection Among the wide variety of holdings in the DAR Americana Collection is a collection of all of the signatures of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. This exhibit includes a biography, signature, and portrait for each of the 56 signers. The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, but it was not signed until almost a month later. The Congress did not have the approval of all 13 colonies until July 9, 1776. When was Declaration of Independence signed? Explore dates, who wrote it, where and when it was signed, its role in American independence. Learn about the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, influenced by Enlightenment ideals of fundamental rights and freedoms. See their portraits in the National Portrait Gallery and the history of the document. Find out the names, states, birthplaces, occupations, and dates of birth and death of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Learn about their roles, contributions, and challenges in the American Revolution.
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