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The first lines of the Declaration of Independence's preamble are some of the best known sentences in the English-speaking world. Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the Declaration of Independence, later explained that though his wording was original, the ideas presented in the document were beliefs held by many colonists at that time.
Several printings of the Declaration of Independence were made after the decision was announced. The first of these printings, called the Dunlap Broadside, ran without any signatures. The names of those who signed the Declaration were withheld from the public for six months, because if the colonies had failed to achieve independence, they would be sentenced to death for their acts of treason. On January 18, 1777, Congress ordered that a copy of the Declaration of Independence with signatories listed be sent to each state. This version was called the Goddard Broadside.
Signatures
The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates from the original 13 colonies.
The President of Congress at the time, John Hancock of Massachusetts, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, and his large, embellished signature has made his name synonymous with the word "signature."
The Declaration of Independence was signed by the following people:
| President of Congress: John Hancock New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett William Whipple Matthew Thornton New Jersey: Richard Stockton John Witherspoon Francis Hopkinson John Hart Abraham Clark Massachusetts: Samuel Adams John Adams Robert Treat Paine Elbridge Gerry Delaware: George Read Caesar Rodney Thomas McKean |
North Carolina: William Hooper Joseph Hewes John Penn New York: William Floyd Philip Livingston Francis Lewis Lewis Morris Maryland: Samuel Chase William Paca Thomas Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton Georgia Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall George Walton Connecticut: Roger Sherman Samuel Huntington William Williams Oliver Wolcott |
South Carolina: Edward Ruteledge Thomas Heyward, Jr. Thomas Lynch, Jr. Arthur Middleton 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 |
The oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence was Benjamin Franklin who was 70. The youngest was Edward Rutledge at 26 years old.
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