The Declaration of Independence, 1776

The Declaration of Independence is, perhaps, America's most cherished document. Thomas Jefferson is credited for the drafting of the Declaration of Independence between June 11 and June 28, 1776. The Declaration was approved on July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State House is known today as Independence Hall.

Between June 7 and June 11, Richard Henry Lee urged Congress to declare independence from Great Britain's rule. Lee's resolution was adopted. A committee was appointed to draft a declaration of independence. The committee included Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York, John Adams of Massachusetts, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut. Between June 28 and July 4, the draft of the Declaration of Independence was read, debated, and revised. Although Thomas Jefferson is credited as the primary author, revisions were made by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson had made reference to the people of England and slave trade practices. Adams and Franklin, feeling that Jefferson's remarks were inappropriate, revised the two passages in the document. Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It is said that church bells rang in Philadelphia to on July 4 to celebrate the adoption of the document. George Washington received a copy of the resolution from John Hancock on July 6. The resolution contained information about reading the Declaration of Independence to the Revolutionary Army. George Washington announced the Declaration to the Continental Army in New York on July 9, 1776. On July 19, Congress ordered the Declaration to be signed by the members of Congress. On August 2, 1776, most of the Congressional delegates signed the Declaration of Independence with only a few signing at a later time.

Signers of the Declaration of Independence (Grouped by State)

Massachusetts: Sam Adams, Robert Treat Paine, John Hancock, John Adams, and Elbridge Gerry

Connecticut: William Williams, Oliver Wolcott, Roger Sherman, and Samuel Huntington

New Jersey: John Witherspoon, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Abraham Clark, and Richard Stockton

Virginia: Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Nelson Jr., Carter Braxton, George Wythe, Benjamin Harrison, Richard Henry Lee, and Francis Lightfoot Lee

New Hampshire: Matthew Thornton, Josiah Bartlett, and William Whipple

Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery

Pennsylvania: George Taylor, James Wilson, Benjamin Rush, George Ross, Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, James Smith, and George Clymer

New York: Philip Livingston, Lewis Morris, Francis Lewis, and William Floyd

Maryland: Thomas Stone, Samuel Chase, Charles Carroll, and William Paca

South Carolina: Thomas Lynch, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward Jr., and Arthur Middleton

Delaware: George Read, Thomas McKean, and Caesar Rodney

North Carolina: John Penn, William Hooper, and Joseph Hewes

Georgia: George Walton, Lyman Hall, and Button Gwinnett