An American author, inventor, diplomat, and legislator, Franklin (1706- 1709) proposed the Albany Plan of Union that foresaw the benefits of colonial unity. He later signed the Declaration of Independence and helped frame the constitution, urging delegates to Cooperate and sign the final draft. 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 Step into history like never before. Watch America's brave Signers of the Declaration of Independence come to life to share their stories, struggles, and Signers of the Declaration of Independence Download this Information in PDF Format The final draft of the Declaration was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, although the date of its signing has long been disputed. Most historians have concluded that it was signed on August 2, 1776, nearly a month after its adoption, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed. Lawmakers approved and adopted the document on July 4, 1776. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, was first to sign the copy of the Declaration of Independence known as the Dunlap Broadside. Once an official copy was available, all 56 members of the Second Continental Congress, including Benjamin Franklin, signed. Portraits and autograph signatures of the Founding Fathers, who unanimously signed the Declaration of Independence at the Second Continental Congress inside present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia The National Archives has identified three founding documents as the "Charters of Freedom": Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, and Bill of Rights. According to the In 1787, Franklin served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention at age 81, becoming one of only six men to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. He held numerous offices in Maryland, both before and after independence, and helped frame the Maryland constitution. He signed the Declaration of Independence as "Charles Carroll of On August 2, 1776, members of the Second Continental Congress, including John Hancock, the President of the Congress, began signing the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. There would eventually be 56 signers of the document. Many of their portraits are in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. Only a handful signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; they include: Benjamin Franklin, George Read, Roger Sherman, Robert Morris, George Clymer, and James Wilson. These three documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, have secured the rights of the American people for more than two and a quarter centuries and are considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States. Declaration of Independence Learn More The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for At the National Constitution Center, you will find rare copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These are the three most important documents in American history. But why are they important, and what are their similarities and differences? And how did each document, in turn, influence the next in America’s ongoing quest for liberty and equality George Clymer (1739-1813) —George Clymer had a great deal of financial talent and signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. His home was vandalized by the British in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War. Here he served on the drafting committee for the Declaration of Independence, signed the declaration, and helped write the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. In the republic he served as a senator in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth congresses, representing Shelby, Sabine, and Harrison counties. It has been cited in the push for the abolition of slavery and in many civil rights movements, and it continues to be a rallying cry for human rights to this day. Alongside the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence was one of the most important documents to come out of the American Revolutionary era. George Washington, who signed the Constitution didn’t sign the Declaration of Independence and the reason is that he was too busy leading troops into battle during the American Revolution. The Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence—written largely by Jefferson—in Philadelphia on July 4, a date now celebrated as the birth of American independence. In 1776, Franklin had already accomplished many of the things he is best known for today, but would go on to sign not only the Declaration of Independence but also the Treaty of Paris, as well as the Constitution that established the United States government as we know it today. More information Learn what the document says, its meaning, and how it was created on our main Declaration of Independence page. You can even add your name to the Declaration of Independence on our Join the Signers page!
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