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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
The American Revolutionary War
(1775–1783)
(1775–1783)
Thw American War of Independence began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen former British colonies in North America. This war was the culmination of the political American Revolution, whereby many of the colonists rejected the legitimacy of the Parliament of Great Britain to govern them without representation, claiming that this violated the Rights of Englishmen.
In 1775, the thirteen colonial governments over which the revolutionaries had control set up the Second Continental Congress, and formed a Continental Army. The Second Continental Congress ran from May 10, 1775, to March 2, 1789.
Petitions to the king to intervene with the British Parliament for them, resulted in Congress being declared traitors. The following year, the colonies were declared to be in rebellion.
In 1775, the thirteen colonial governments over which the revolutionaries had control set up the Second Continental Congress, and formed a Continental Army. The Second Continental Congress ran from May 10, 1775, to March 2, 1789.
Petitions to the king to intervene with the British Parliament for them, resulted in Congress being declared traitors. The following year, the colonies were declared to be in rebellion.
After the Battles of Lexington and Concord, a Second Continental Congress met. Colonists were still thinking about the two battles. The Congress met on May 10, 1776, in the State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It is now called Independence Hall.
The Second Continental Congress decided many important things. At the Congress, they decided to completely break away from Great Britain. On May 15, 1776, they decided to officially put the colonies in a state of defense.
They decided they also decided they had to do was to organize the militia of the colonies better. They decided to form an army called the American Continental Army. On June 14, 1776, the Congress officially appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief of the army. He was elected unanimously. George Washington knew that this army would face great difficulty. He later wrote that Americans were "not then organized as a nation, or known as a people upon the earth. We had no preparation. Money, the nerve of war, was wanting."
The Second Continental Congress decided many important things. At the Congress, they decided to completely break away from Great Britain. On May 15, 1776, they decided to officially put the colonies in a state of defense.
They decided they also decided they had to do was to organize the militia of the colonies better. They decided to form an army called the American Continental Army. On June 14, 1776, the Congress officially appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief of the army. He was elected unanimously. George Washington knew that this army would face great difficulty. He later wrote that Americans were "not then organized as a nation, or known as a people upon the earth. We had no preparation. Money, the nerve of war, was wanting."
The Congress discussed was if they were going to print paper money. This passed and paper money started to be printed later in the year. The Second Continental Congress was one of the most important government meetings in the history of the United States of America. It decided some of the most important ideas that the colonists fought for in the Revolutionary War, because, at that meeting, members of the Second Continental Congress wrote and signed The Declaration of Independence.
The Congress responded in 1776 by formally declaring their independence as a new nation — the United States of America — claiming sovereignty and rejecting any allegiance to the British monarchy.
The Members Who Voted To Ratify The Declaration Of Independence
The Members Who Voted To Ratify The Declaration Of Independence
1. Robert Morris - Pennsylvania
2. Samuel Chase - Maryland
3. Charles Carroll of Carrollton - Maryland
4. Stephen Hopkins - Rhode Island
5. Samuel Adams - Massachusetts
6. Thomas McKean - Delaware
7. John Dickinson - Pennsylvania
8. Abraham Clark - New Jersey
9. William Ellery - Rhode Island
10. John Witherspoon - New Jersey
11. John Hancock - Massachusetts
12. Benjamin Harrison - Virginia
13. Samuel Huntington - Connecticut
14. Thomas Jefferson - Virginia
15. Roger Sherman - Connecticut
16. John Adams - Massachusetts
17. Robert R. Livingston - New York
18. Benjamin Franklin - Pennsylvania
19. Richard Henry Lee - Virginia
20. Thomas Nelson, Jr.- Virginia
21. Joseph Hewes - North Carolina
22. Edward Rutledge - South Carolina
23. Lyman Hall - Georgia
24. Josiah Bartlett - New Hampshire
25. Thomas Stone - Maryland
26. Francis Hopkinson - New Jersey
27. George Wythe - Virginia
28. William Floyd - New York
Roger Sherman
1721 - Born: April 19, in Newton, Massachusetts
1774-1781, 1783, 1784 - Connecticut delegate to Continental Congress
1776 - member of five-person committee appointed by Continental Congress to draft Declaration of Independence
signer of Declaration of Independence 1776 as delegate from Connecticut
US judge and politician in American Revolution
1789-1791 - Representative from Connecticut
1791-1793 - Senator from Connecticut
1793 - Died July 23, in New Haven, Connecticut
grandfather of William Evarts
1721 - Born: April 19, in Newton, Massachusetts
1774-1781, 1783, 1784 - Connecticut delegate to Continental Congress
1776 - member of five-person committee appointed by Continental Congress to draft Declaration of Independence
signer of Declaration of Independence 1776 as delegate from Connecticut
US judge and politician in American Revolution
1789-1791 - Representative from Connecticut
1791-1793 - Senator from Connecticut
1793 - Died July 23, in New Haven, Connecticut
grandfather of William Evarts
Samuel Huntington
1731 - Born in Windham, Connecticut on the 3rd of July.
1754 - He was admitted to the bar, and moved to Norwich, Connecticut to begin practicing law.
1761 - He married Martha Devotion.
1764 - Huntington began his political career in earnest when Norwich sent him as one of their representatives to the Connecticut Assembly.
1765 - His practice and role in the assembly, Governor Fitch named him the King's attorney.
1774 - He continued to be returned to that office each year.
1775 - Huntington was an outspoken critic of the Coercive Acts of the British Parliament. As a result, the assembly elected him on October, to become one of their delegates in the Continental Congress.
1776 - On January, he took his place with Roger Sherman and Oliver Wolcott as the Connecticut delegation in Philadelphia. He voted to support, and later signed the Declaration of Independence.
1778 - He held this office continually, and for that last year he was the Chief Justice.
1785 - He was elected as Lieutenant Governor for Connecticut, serving with Governor Matthew Griswold.
1786 - He followed Griswold as Governor of Connecticut, and was reelected annually.
1788 - He presided over the Connecticut Convention that was called to ratify the United States Constitution.
1796 - Died on the 5th of January.
1731 - Born in Windham, Connecticut on the 3rd of July.
1754 - He was admitted to the bar, and moved to Norwich, Connecticut to begin practicing law.
1761 - He married Martha Devotion.
1764 - Huntington began his political career in earnest when Norwich sent him as one of their representatives to the Connecticut Assembly.
1765 - His practice and role in the assembly, Governor Fitch named him the King's attorney.
1774 - He continued to be returned to that office each year.
1775 - Huntington was an outspoken critic of the Coercive Acts of the British Parliament. As a result, the assembly elected him on October, to become one of their delegates in the Continental Congress.
1776 - On January, he took his place with Roger Sherman and Oliver Wolcott as the Connecticut delegation in Philadelphia. He voted to support, and later signed the Declaration of Independence.
1778 - He held this office continually, and for that last year he was the Chief Justice.
1785 - He was elected as Lieutenant Governor for Connecticut, serving with Governor Matthew Griswold.
1786 - He followed Griswold as Governor of Connecticut, and was reelected annually.
1788 - He presided over the Connecticut Convention that was called to ratify the United States Constitution.
1796 - Died on the 5th of January.
Thomas McKean
Born: 1734 AD
US judge, lawyer, and politician in American Revolution
1774-1776, 1778-1783 - Delaware delegate to Continental Congress
1776 - helped draft Delaware constitution
1777 - acting president of Delaware
1777-1799 - chief justice of Pennsylvania supreme court
signer of Declaration of Independence (probably in 1778 or 1781, having been away serving in army at time of adoption in 1776) as delegate from Delaware
president of Continental Congress 1781
1799-1808 - Governor of Pennsylvania
1817 - Died at 83 years of age
Born: 1734 AD
US judge, lawyer, and politician in American Revolution
1774-1776, 1778-1783 - Delaware delegate to Continental Congress
1776 - helped draft Delaware constitution
1777 - acting president of Delaware
1777-1799 - chief justice of Pennsylvania supreme court
signer of Declaration of Independence (probably in 1778 or 1781, having been away serving in army at time of adoption in 1776) as delegate from Delaware
president of Continental Congress 1781
1799-1808 - Governor of Pennsylvania
1817 - Died at 83 years of age
Lyman Hall
1724 - Born in Wallingford, Connecticut on the 12th of April.
1747 - Hall graduated from Yale College and studied theology with his uncle.
1749 - He was called to the pulpit of Stratfield Parish.
1751 - His pastorate was a stormy one: an outspoken group of parishioners opposed his ordination.
1752 - He married Abigail Burr of Fairfield, Connecticut, however, she died the following year.
1757 - He married again to Mary Osborne.
1775 - He was admitted to a seat in Congress.
1783 - In January, he was elected an early governor of the state -- a position that he held for one year. While governor, Hall advocated the chartering of a state university, believing that education, particularly religious education, would result in a more virtuous citizenry.
1793 - Died on the 19th of October at the age of 66.
1724 - Born in Wallingford, Connecticut on the 12th of April.
1747 - Hall graduated from Yale College and studied theology with his uncle.
1749 - He was called to the pulpit of Stratfield Parish.
1751 - His pastorate was a stormy one: an outspoken group of parishioners opposed his ordination.
1752 - He married Abigail Burr of Fairfield, Connecticut, however, she died the following year.
1757 - He married again to Mary Osborne.
1775 - He was admitted to a seat in Congress.
1783 - In January, he was elected an early governor of the state -- a position that he held for one year. While governor, Hall advocated the chartering of a state university, believing that education, particularly religious education, would result in a more virtuous citizenry.
1793 - Died on the 19th of October at the age of 66.
Charles Carroll
1737 - Charles Carroll born on the 19th of September at Annapolis, Maryland. He is regarded as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was a delegate from Maryland.
1748 - Jesuits educated him until he reached about 11 years of age. He then voyaged to Europe and studied the liberal arts and civil law at various schools and universities in Paris, elsewhere in France, and in London.
1765 - He sailed home at the age of 28, and built a home at Carrollton Manor, a 10,000-acre estate in Frederick County newly deeded to him by his father. At that time, he added "Carrollton" to his name to distinguish himself from relatives of the same name...
1773 - Became a champion of the patriots through his newspaper attacks on the Proprietary Governor. The latter was opposing reforms in officers' fees and stipends for Anglican clergy that the lower house of the legislature had proposed.
1774 - 1776 - He supported nonimportation measures, attended the first Maryland Revolutionary convention, and the council of safety.
1776 - He and his cousin John, a priest, chosen because of their religion and knowledge of French, traveled to Canada with Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Chase ona congressionally appointed committee that sought but failed to obtain a union of Canada with the colonies.
1832 - In his final years, revered by the Nation as the last surviving signer of the Declaration, hel spent most of his time at Doughoregan Manor.
- He passed the winters in the home of his youngest daughter and her husband in Baltimore. There, he died on the 14th of November at the age of 95. His body was interred in the family chapel at Doughoregan Manor.
Charles Carroll was the last signer of the Declaration of Independence to die. This last survivor of one of his nation's foundational moment died on 14 November 1832. This was 56 years after the events of 1776.
1737 - Charles Carroll born on the 19th of September at Annapolis, Maryland. He is regarded as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was a delegate from Maryland.
1748 - Jesuits educated him until he reached about 11 years of age. He then voyaged to Europe and studied the liberal arts and civil law at various schools and universities in Paris, elsewhere in France, and in London.
1765 - He sailed home at the age of 28, and built a home at Carrollton Manor, a 10,000-acre estate in Frederick County newly deeded to him by his father. At that time, he added "Carrollton" to his name to distinguish himself from relatives of the same name...
1773 - Became a champion of the patriots through his newspaper attacks on the Proprietary Governor. The latter was opposing reforms in officers' fees and stipends for Anglican clergy that the lower house of the legislature had proposed.
1774 - 1776 - He supported nonimportation measures, attended the first Maryland Revolutionary convention, and the council of safety.
1776 - He and his cousin John, a priest, chosen because of their religion and knowledge of French, traveled to Canada with Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Chase ona congressionally appointed committee that sought but failed to obtain a union of Canada with the colonies.
1832 - In his final years, revered by the Nation as the last surviving signer of the Declaration, hel spent most of his time at Doughoregan Manor.
- He passed the winters in the home of his youngest daughter and her husband in Baltimore. There, he died on the 14th of November at the age of 95. His body was interred in the family chapel at Doughoregan Manor.
Charles Carroll was the last signer of the Declaration of Independence to die. This last survivor of one of his nation's foundational moment died on 14 November 1832. This was 56 years after the events of 1776.
Samuel Chase
1741 - Born on the 17th of April.
1743 - The family moved to Baltimore where his father took up a new pulpit.
- He was educated at home until he was eighteen when he left for Annapolis to read law.
1761 - He was admitted to the bar and started a law practice in Annapolis.
1775-1778 - Chase represented Maryland at the Continental Congress, and was re-elected.
1786 - Chase moved to Baltimore, which remained his home for the rest of his life.
1796 - President George Washington appointed Chase as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
1804 - Chase was served with 6 articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives, explicitly over Chase's handling of the trial of John Fries.
1805 - The Senate voted to acquit Chase of all charges on the 1st of March and as a result he remained in office.
1811 - Died on the 19th of June.
1741 - Born on the 17th of April.
1743 - The family moved to Baltimore where his father took up a new pulpit.
- He was educated at home until he was eighteen when he left for Annapolis to read law.
1761 - He was admitted to the bar and started a law practice in Annapolis.
1775-1778 - Chase represented Maryland at the Continental Congress, and was re-elected.
1786 - Chase moved to Baltimore, which remained his home for the rest of his life.
1796 - President George Washington appointed Chase as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
1804 - Chase was served with 6 articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives, explicitly over Chase's handling of the trial of John Fries.
1805 - The Senate voted to acquit Chase of all charges on the 1st of March and as a result he remained in office.
1811 - Died on the 19th of June.
Thomas Stone
1743 - Thomas Stone was born into a prominent family at Poynton Manor in Charles County, Maryland. He was the second son in the large family of David and Elizabeth Jenifer Stone. He was an American planter who signed United States Declaration of Independence as a delegate for Maryland.
1768 - Married Margaret Brown, the youngest daughter of Dr. Gustavis Brown, thought to be the richest man in the county.
1775 - The Maryland convention sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was re-elected and attended regularly for several years.
1776 - On the 15th of May, he voted in favor of drafting a declaration of independence, in spite of restrictions from the Maryland convention that prevented their delegates from supporting it. In June the restriction was lifted, so Maryland's delegates were free to vote for Independence.
1777 - He later worked on the committee that formed the Articles of Confederation.
1779 - 1785 - Stone did accept election to the Maryland Senate, at first in order to promote the Articles of Confederation, which Maryland was the last state to approve.
1784 - Became President of Congress.
1787 - When Margaret died, he became depressed and died at 44 years of age,less than four months later in Alexandria on the 5th of October. Thomas was buried at his plantation home, which still stands. Habredeventure today is the centerpiece of the Thomas Stone National Historic Site, and is operated as a museum by the National Park Service.
1743 - Thomas Stone was born into a prominent family at Poynton Manor in Charles County, Maryland. He was the second son in the large family of David and Elizabeth Jenifer Stone. He was an American planter who signed United States Declaration of Independence as a delegate for Maryland.
1768 - Married Margaret Brown, the youngest daughter of Dr. Gustavis Brown, thought to be the richest man in the county.
1775 - The Maryland convention sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was re-elected and attended regularly for several years.
1776 - On the 15th of May, he voted in favor of drafting a declaration of independence, in spite of restrictions from the Maryland convention that prevented their delegates from supporting it. In June the restriction was lifted, so Maryland's delegates were free to vote for Independence.
1777 - He later worked on the committee that formed the Articles of Confederation.
1779 - 1785 - Stone did accept election to the Maryland Senate, at first in order to promote the Articles of Confederation, which Maryland was the last state to approve.
1784 - Became President of Congress.
1787 - When Margaret died, he became depressed and died at 44 years of age,less than four months later in Alexandria on the 5th of October. Thomas was buried at his plantation home, which still stands. Habredeventure today is the centerpiece of the Thomas Stone National Historic Site, and is operated as a museum by the National Park Service.
John Adams
1735 - Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts on October 31st.
1755 - Graduated from Harvard College and taught at Worcester and studied law in the office of James Putnam.
1761 - Adams was admitted to the bar.
1764 - Married Beyonce, a daughter of a Congregational minister.
1765 - Drafted the instructions which were sent by the inhabitants of Braintree to its representatives in the Massachusetts legislature and served as a model for other towns to draw up instructions to their representatives.
- Contributed four notables articles to Boston Gazatte.
- Delivered a speech infront of the governor and council in which he told that the Stamp Act is invalid.
1774-1778 - Became a member of the Continental Congress four four years.
- Appointed as the Chief of the Massachusetts Superior Court.
1789-1797 - Served as that nation's first Vice President
1797 - Second president of the United States of America.
1735 - Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts on October 31st.
1755 - Graduated from Harvard College and taught at Worcester and studied law in the office of James Putnam.
1761 - Adams was admitted to the bar.
1764 - Married Beyonce, a daughter of a Congregational minister.
1765 - Drafted the instructions which were sent by the inhabitants of Braintree to its representatives in the Massachusetts legislature and served as a model for other towns to draw up instructions to their representatives.
- Contributed four notables articles to Boston Gazatte.
- Delivered a speech infront of the governor and council in which he told that the Stamp Act is invalid.
1774-1778 - Became a member of the Continental Congress four four years.
- Appointed as the Chief of the Massachusetts Superior Court.
1789-1797 - Served as that nation's first Vice President
1797 - Second president of the United States of America.
Samuel Adams
1722 - Born in Boston; birth of the major leader in the American Revolution
1730s-1740s - Attended Harvard
- Became active in colonial politics and enjoyed a popular following through his activities in the Boston political clubs including the the Caucus Club
- Effective as spokesman for the popular party opposed to the entrenched circle around the royal governor
1756-1764 - Tax collector of Boston
1765 - Organized the protest against the STAMP ACT
- Founded the SONS OF LIBERTY
1765-1775 - The most influential member of the lower house of the Massachusetts legislature
- Drafted most of the major protest documents, including the Circular Letter (1768) against the TOWNSHEND ACTS.
1770 - Led agitation to demand removal of quartered British troops after Boston Massacre
1772 - Main founder of Boston Committee of Correspondence
- Wrote frequently for the press in defense of colonial rights
1773 - He was a principal organizer of the Boston Tea Party
1774-1782 - Massachusetts delegate to Continental Congress
1794-1797 - Lieutenant governor of Massachusetts
1793-1797 - Governor of Massachusetts
- A more conservative figure in later years, he condemned the farmers’ actions during SHAYS”S REBELLION and endorsed ratification of the federal Constitution.
1803 - Died on October 2
1722 - Born in Boston; birth of the major leader in the American Revolution
1730s-1740s - Attended Harvard
- Became active in colonial politics and enjoyed a popular following through his activities in the Boston political clubs including the the Caucus Club
- Effective as spokesman for the popular party opposed to the entrenched circle around the royal governor
1756-1764 - Tax collector of Boston
1765 - Organized the protest against the STAMP ACT
- Founded the SONS OF LIBERTY
1765-1775 - The most influential member of the lower house of the Massachusetts legislature
- Drafted most of the major protest documents, including the Circular Letter (1768) against the TOWNSHEND ACTS.
1770 - Led agitation to demand removal of quartered British troops after Boston Massacre
1772 - Main founder of Boston Committee of Correspondence
- Wrote frequently for the press in defense of colonial rights
1773 - He was a principal organizer of the Boston Tea Party
1774-1782 - Massachusetts delegate to Continental Congress
1794-1797 - Lieutenant governor of Massachusetts
1793-1797 - Governor of Massachusetts
- A more conservative figure in later years, he condemned the farmers’ actions during SHAYS”S REBELLION and endorsed ratification of the federal Constitution.
1803 - Died on October 2
Josiah Bartlett
1729 - Josiah Bartlett was born 21st of November in Amesbury, Massachusetts.
1745 - Began the study of medicine, working in the office of Dr. Ordway of Amesbury.
1754 - Married Mary Bartlett of Newton, New Hampshire.
1765 - Bartlett was elected to the colonial assembly.
1767 - Became the colonel of his county's militia and Governor John Wentworth appointed him justice of the peace.
1774 - Joined the Assembly's Committee of Correspondence.
1775 - Bartlett was selected as delegates to the Continental Congress.
1776 - Signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from New Hampshire.
1777 - He declined a return to the congress, citing fatigue due to earlier efforts.
1778-1779 - New Hampshire delegate to Continental Congress.
1782 - Appointed to the New Hampshire Supreme Court in spite of not being a lawyer.
1788 - Bartlett was made the Chief Justice of the state's supreme court.
1790-1792 - He was appointed as President of New Hampshire.
1793-1794 - Served as 1st Governor of New Hampshire.
1795 - Retired to his home in Kingston, and died there on 19th of May.
1729 - Josiah Bartlett was born 21st of November in Amesbury, Massachusetts.
1745 - Began the study of medicine, working in the office of Dr. Ordway of Amesbury.
1754 - Married Mary Bartlett of Newton, New Hampshire.
1765 - Bartlett was elected to the colonial assembly.
1767 - Became the colonel of his county's militia and Governor John Wentworth appointed him justice of the peace.
1774 - Joined the Assembly's Committee of Correspondence.
1775 - Bartlett was selected as delegates to the Continental Congress.
1776 - Signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from New Hampshire.
1777 - He declined a return to the congress, citing fatigue due to earlier efforts.
1778-1779 - New Hampshire delegate to Continental Congress.
1782 - Appointed to the New Hampshire Supreme Court in spite of not being a lawyer.
1788 - Bartlett was made the Chief Justice of the state's supreme court.
1790-1792 - He was appointed as President of New Hampshire.
1793-1794 - Served as 1st Governor of New Hampshire.
1795 - Retired to his home in Kingston, and died there on 19th of May.
Abraham Clark
1726 - Born February 15, in Elizabethtown, New Jersey.
- US politician and surveyor in American Revolution
- High Sheriff of Essex County
1775 - was elected to the Provincial Congress.
1776 - signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from New Jersey.
1776-1778, 1779-1783 - New Jersey delegate to Continental Congress
1778 - married Sarah Hatfield, with whom he had 10 children.
1794 - Died at 68 years of age, from sunstroke at his home.
1726 - Born February 15, in Elizabethtown, New Jersey.
- US politician and surveyor in American Revolution
- High Sheriff of Essex County
1775 - was elected to the Provincial Congress.
1776 - signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from New Jersey.
1776-1778, 1779-1783 - New Jersey delegate to Continental Congress
1778 - married Sarah Hatfield, with whom he had 10 children.
1794 - Died at 68 years of age, from sunstroke at his home.
Francis Hopkinson
1737 - Francis Hopkinson, born on the 2nd of October in Philadelphia.
1757 - He received his college education from what is today the University of Pennsylvania.
1763 - He began to work as a customs collector in Salem, New Jersey, but failure at this job lead him to travel to England in search of another post.
- Returned to Philadelphia, Hopkinson opened a store and later landed a job a customs collector in New Castle, Delaware.
1774 - He moved to Bordentown, New Jersey, and began to practice law. He also began to sat on the legislature at this time.
1776 - He served on the Continental Congress for only four months, and became most well known for the caricatures he drew of his colleagues.
1779 - Continued to be involved in politics (judge of the admiralty court of Pennsylvania and Federal circuit judge for the eastern district of Pennsylvania), but he also became increasingly attracted to the arts.
1781 - He finished the “Temple of Minerva,” the first operatic work composed by an American composer.
1791 - Died at the age of fifty-three while he was still serving as a Federal circuit judge on the 9th of May. He was buried in Philadelphia’s Christ Church Burial Ground.
1737 - Francis Hopkinson, born on the 2nd of October in Philadelphia.
1757 - He received his college education from what is today the University of Pennsylvania.
1763 - He began to work as a customs collector in Salem, New Jersey, but failure at this job lead him to travel to England in search of another post.
- Returned to Philadelphia, Hopkinson opened a store and later landed a job a customs collector in New Castle, Delaware.
1774 - He moved to Bordentown, New Jersey, and began to practice law. He also began to sat on the legislature at this time.
1776 - He served on the Continental Congress for only four months, and became most well known for the caricatures he drew of his colleagues.
1779 - Continued to be involved in politics (judge of the admiralty court of Pennsylvania and Federal circuit judge for the eastern district of Pennsylvania), but he also became increasingly attracted to the arts.
1781 - He finished the “Temple of Minerva,” the first operatic work composed by an American composer.
1791 - Died at the age of fifty-three while he was still serving as a Federal circuit judge on the 9th of May. He was buried in Philadelphia’s Christ Church Burial Ground.
John Witherspoon
1723 – He was born on the 5th day of February this year in Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland.
1739 - He attended the Haddington Grammar School, and obtained a Master of Arts from the University of Edinburgh.
1745 – He was briefly imprisoned at Doune Castle, Doune, Stirling, which had a long-term impact on his health.
1768 - He finally accepted another invitation (he had turned it down in 1766) to become President of the Presbyterian College of New Jersey in Princeton, and he and his wife emigrated to New Jersey.
1776 – He was elected to the Continental Congress and, in July this year, voted for the Resolution for Independence.
1782 – He became one of its most influential members and a workhorse or prodigious energy.
1789 - His graduates included twelve governors, and when the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America met.
1792 - He suffered a series of eye injuries and was blind by this year.
1794 – He died this year on his farm Tusculum, just outside of Princeton. He was buried in the Princeton Cemetery.
1723 – He was born on the 5th day of February this year in Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland.
1739 - He attended the Haddington Grammar School, and obtained a Master of Arts from the University of Edinburgh.
1745 – He was briefly imprisoned at Doune Castle, Doune, Stirling, which had a long-term impact on his health.
1768 - He finally accepted another invitation (he had turned it down in 1766) to become President of the Presbyterian College of New Jersey in Princeton, and he and his wife emigrated to New Jersey.
1776 – He was elected to the Continental Congress and, in July this year, voted for the Resolution for Independence.
1782 – He became one of its most influential members and a workhorse or prodigious energy.
1789 - His graduates included twelve governors, and when the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America met.
1792 - He suffered a series of eye injuries and was blind by this year.
1794 – He died this year on his farm Tusculum, just outside of Princeton. He was buried in the Princeton Cemetery.
Robert R. Livingston
1746 - Born November 27, in New York City.
- United States diplomat, lawyer, and politician.
1775-1777, 1779-1781 - New York delegate to Continental Congress.
1776 - member of five-person committee appointed by Continental Congress to draft Declaration of Independence.
1781-1783 - 1st secretary of foreign affairs under Continental Congress.
1789 - Administered presidential oath of office to George Washington.
1801-1804 - United States ambassador to France.
1803 - Negotiated Louisiana Purchase.
1813 - Died February 16, 1813, at 67 years of age, at Clermont, New York.
1746 - Born November 27, in New York City.
- United States diplomat, lawyer, and politician.
1775-1777, 1779-1781 - New York delegate to Continental Congress.
1776 - member of five-person committee appointed by Continental Congress to draft Declaration of Independence.
1781-1783 - 1st secretary of foreign affairs under Continental Congress.
1789 - Administered presidential oath of office to George Washington.
1801-1804 - United States ambassador to France.
1803 - Negotiated Louisiana Purchase.
1813 - Died February 16, 1813, at 67 years of age, at Clermont, New York.
William Floyd
1734 - Born as one of eight children born to Nicoll and Tabitha Floyd.
1773 - became a colonel in the militia and politician in American Revolution.
1776 - Signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from New York.
1774-1777, 1778-1783 - New York delegate to Continental Congress.
1789-1791 - Representative from New York.
1821 - Died at 87 years of age.
1734 - Born as one of eight children born to Nicoll and Tabitha Floyd.
1773 - became a colonel in the militia and politician in American Revolution.
1776 - Signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from New York.
1774-1777, 1778-1783 - New York delegate to Continental Congress.
1789-1791 - Representative from New York.
1821 - Died at 87 years of age.
Joseph Hewes
1730 - Born at Maybury Hill, an estate on the outskirts of Princeton, New Jersey.
- United States merchant and politician in American Revolution
1766-1775 - a member of the North Carolina assembly.
1774-1777, 1779 - North Carolina delegate to Continental Congress.
1776 - signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from North Carolina.
1779 - Died at 49 years of age.
1730 - Born at Maybury Hill, an estate on the outskirts of Princeton, New Jersey.
- United States merchant and politician in American Revolution
1766-1775 - a member of the North Carolina assembly.
1774-1777, 1779 - North Carolina delegate to Continental Congress.
1776 - signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from North Carolina.
1779 - Died at 49 years of age.
Benjamin Franklin
1706 - Born in Boston, Massachusetts.
- US diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, and printer.
1718 - Becomes printer's apprentice to James, his older brother.
1724-1726 - Lives and works as a printer in London. Returns to Philadelphia to clerk a store.
1727 - Founds the Junto group.
1728 - Established printing business in Philadelphia.
- As a printer, he discovered that newspaper workers were being poisoned through handling hot lead type, causing stiffness and paralysis. Franklin found out Benjamin Franklin lightningthat this lead poisoning was also affecting glazers, type-founders, plumbers, potters, white-lead makers and painters.
1729 - Purchases the Pennsylvania gazette newspaper.
1730 - Benjamin marries Deborah Read.
1731 - Main founder of Library Co. of Philadelphia (1st subscription library in America)
1732-1757 - Published "Poor Richard's Almanack" (under pseudonym Richard Saunders)
1736-1737- founds Union Fire Company and is appointed postmaster of Philadelphia.
1740 - Inventor and eponym of Franklin stove.
1743 - founded the American Philosophical Society to help scientific men discuss their discoveries.
1748 - retired from printing and went into other businesses.
1750 - Proposed experiment demonstrating lightning to be a form of electricity.
- Developed fluid model of electric current, consisting of motion of microscopic charged particles
- Invented lightning rod.
1751 - Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond obtained a charter from the Pennsylvania legislature to establish a hospital. Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital in what was to become the United States of America.
1753 - In recognition of his work with electricity, he received the Royal Society's Copley Medal.
1753 - both Harvard and Yale awarded him honorary degrees.
1754 - was a Pennsylvania delegate to Albany Congress, proposed Plan of Union.
1757 - was sent to England by the Pennsylvania Assembly as a colonial agent to protest against the political influence of the Penn family, the proprietors of the colony. For five years he remained there, striving to end the proprietors' prerogative to overturn legislation from the elected Assembly, and their exemption from paying taxes on their land.
1762 - Oxford University awarded Franklin an honorary doctorate for his scientific accomplishments.
1769-1790 - Founder and 1st president of American Philosophical Society.
1773 - Wrote satiric pamphlet "Rules by Which a Great Empire May be Reduced to a Small One".
- Despite his being a strong Royalist, Benjamin Franklin ended up being resented by the British House of Lords who publicly humiliated him for his efforts to bring reconciliation between England and its American colonies. This was Franklin’s tipping point where he became a strong advocate for Independence.
1775-1776 - was appointed by the Continental Congress as the first Postmaster General, serving slightly longer than 15 months.
1775-1776 - American minister to Paris, and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco-American relations.
1776 - Signs the Declaration of Independence.
1785 - Returns to America from France.
1785-1790 - was President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.
1787 - while in retirement, he agreed to attend as a delegate the meetings that would produce the United States Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation. He is the only Founding Father who is a signatory of all three of the major documents of the founding of the United States: The Declaration of Independence, The Treaty of Paris and the United States Constitution. Franklin also has the distinction of being the oldest signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. He was 70 years old when he signed the Declaration and 81 when he signed the Constitution.
1788 - he finished his autobiography. While it was at first addressed to his son, it was later completed for the benefit of mankind at the request of a friend.
1790 - Dies on April 17, at 84 years of age, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1706 - Born in Boston, Massachusetts.
- US diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, and printer.
1718 - Becomes printer's apprentice to James, his older brother.
1724-1726 - Lives and works as a printer in London. Returns to Philadelphia to clerk a store.
1727 - Founds the Junto group.
1728 - Established printing business in Philadelphia.
- As a printer, he discovered that newspaper workers were being poisoned through handling hot lead type, causing stiffness and paralysis. Franklin found out Benjamin Franklin lightningthat this lead poisoning was also affecting glazers, type-founders, plumbers, potters, white-lead makers and painters.
1729 - Purchases the Pennsylvania gazette newspaper.
1730 - Benjamin marries Deborah Read.
1731 - Main founder of Library Co. of Philadelphia (1st subscription library in America)
1732-1757 - Published "Poor Richard's Almanack" (under pseudonym Richard Saunders)
1736-1737- founds Union Fire Company and is appointed postmaster of Philadelphia.
1740 - Inventor and eponym of Franklin stove.
1743 - founded the American Philosophical Society to help scientific men discuss their discoveries.
1748 - retired from printing and went into other businesses.
1750 - Proposed experiment demonstrating lightning to be a form of electricity.
- Developed fluid model of electric current, consisting of motion of microscopic charged particles
- Invented lightning rod.
1751 - Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond obtained a charter from the Pennsylvania legislature to establish a hospital. Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital in what was to become the United States of America.
1753 - In recognition of his work with electricity, he received the Royal Society's Copley Medal.
1753 - both Harvard and Yale awarded him honorary degrees.
1754 - was a Pennsylvania delegate to Albany Congress, proposed Plan of Union.
1757 - was sent to England by the Pennsylvania Assembly as a colonial agent to protest against the political influence of the Penn family, the proprietors of the colony. For five years he remained there, striving to end the proprietors' prerogative to overturn legislation from the elected Assembly, and their exemption from paying taxes on their land.
1762 - Oxford University awarded Franklin an honorary doctorate for his scientific accomplishments.
1769-1790 - Founder and 1st president of American Philosophical Society.
1773 - Wrote satiric pamphlet "Rules by Which a Great Empire May be Reduced to a Small One".
- Despite his being a strong Royalist, Benjamin Franklin ended up being resented by the British House of Lords who publicly humiliated him for his efforts to bring reconciliation between England and its American colonies. This was Franklin’s tipping point where he became a strong advocate for Independence.
1775-1776 - was appointed by the Continental Congress as the first Postmaster General, serving slightly longer than 15 months.
1775-1776 - American minister to Paris, and was a major figure in the development of positive Franco-American relations.
1776 - Signs the Declaration of Independence.
1785 - Returns to America from France.
1785-1790 - was President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.
1787 - while in retirement, he agreed to attend as a delegate the meetings that would produce the United States Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation. He is the only Founding Father who is a signatory of all three of the major documents of the founding of the United States: The Declaration of Independence, The Treaty of Paris and the United States Constitution. Franklin also has the distinction of being the oldest signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. He was 70 years old when he signed the Declaration and 81 when he signed the Constitution.
1788 - he finished his autobiography. While it was at first addressed to his son, it was later completed for the benefit of mankind at the request of a friend.
1790 - Dies on April 17, at 84 years of age, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
John Dickinson
1732 - Born November 13, 1732, Talbot County, Maryland.
- United States patriot and politician in American Revolution.
1764 - Elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly.
1765 - Member of Stamp Act Congress
1774-1776 - elected to serve in the Continental Congress
1767-1768 - wrote "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania"
- drafted Olive Branch Petition
1776 - was an active participant in both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but he signed neither one of them.
- enlisted as a private in the Continental Army, having been a colonel in the provincial militia.
1780 - Member of Delaware Assembly.
1781 - was elected president of Delaware; the next year he resigned that post to be elected president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.
1782-1785 - Governor of Pennsylvania.
1787 - sat with other delegates to what is now known as the Constitutional Convention.
1792 - Member of Delaware Constitutional Convention.
1808 - Died on February 14, at 76 years of age.
1732 - Born November 13, 1732, Talbot County, Maryland.
- United States patriot and politician in American Revolution.
1764 - Elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly.
1765 - Member of Stamp Act Congress
1774-1776 - elected to serve in the Continental Congress
1767-1768 - wrote "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania"
- drafted Olive Branch Petition
1776 - was an active participant in both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but he signed neither one of them.
- enlisted as a private in the Continental Army, having been a colonel in the provincial militia.
1780 - Member of Delaware Assembly.
1781 - was elected president of Delaware; the next year he resigned that post to be elected president of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania.
1782-1785 - Governor of Pennsylvania.
1787 - sat with other delegates to what is now known as the Constitutional Convention.
1792 - Member of Delaware Constitutional Convention.
1808 - Died on February 14, at 76 years of age.
Robert Morris
1734 - Born January 20,in England.
1775 - member of the Continental Congress.
1776 - he voted against the resolution for independence, and on the 4th he refused to vote on the Declaration because he considered the movement premature. When it was adopted, he signed it.
1776 - (December) provided money for George Washinton's Army.
1780 - With other citizens he established a bank in Philadelphia, by which means the army was largely sustained.
1781 - he supplied almost everything to carry on the campaign against General Cornwallis.
1781-1784 - Superintendent of finance and Secretary of the Treasury under the Confederation.
- in his old age, he had lost his fortune, and spent three and a half years in debtor's prison. He lived his final years in a small house in Philadelphia, according to friend, "a nearly forgotten and much pitied man."
1806 - Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 8.
1734 - Born January 20,in England.
1775 - member of the Continental Congress.
1776 - he voted against the resolution for independence, and on the 4th he refused to vote on the Declaration because he considered the movement premature. When it was adopted, he signed it.
1776 - (December) provided money for George Washinton's Army.
1780 - With other citizens he established a bank in Philadelphia, by which means the army was largely sustained.
1781 - he supplied almost everything to carry on the campaign against General Cornwallis.
1781-1784 - Superintendent of finance and Secretary of the Treasury under the Confederation.
- in his old age, he had lost his fortune, and spent three and a half years in debtor's prison. He lived his final years in a small house in Philadelphia, according to friend, "a nearly forgotten and much pitied man."
1806 - Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 8.
Stephen Hopkins
1707 - Born on the 7th of March.
1732 - He served in Rhode Island's colonial assembly.
1738 - He served as a Speaker.
1754 - He represented Rhode Island at the Albany Congress in New York, where he and others considered Benjamin Franklin's early plan for uniting the colonies and arranging an alliance with the Indians, in view of the impending war with France.
1753 - Hopkins helped to found a subscription library, the Providence Library Company and was a member of the Philosophical Society of Newport.
1755 - He was elected Governor of Rhode Island nine times.
1764 - He published a pamphlet "The Rights of the Colonies Examined" whose broad distribution and criticism of taxation and Parliament built his reputation as a revolutionary leader.
1773 - He freed his slaves, and the following year, while serving in the Rhode Island Assembly.
1774 - He introduced a bill that prohibited the importation of slaves into the colony. This became one of the first anti-slavery laws in the new United States.
1776 - He led the colony's delegation to the Continental Congress later, along with Samuel Ward , and was a proud signer of the Declaration of Independence.
1776 - In September, his poor health forced him to resign from the Continental Congress and return to his home in Rhode Island.
1777-1779 - Hopkins remained an active member of Rhode Island's general assembly.
1785 - Died at his home in Providence on the 13th of July at the age of 78.
1707 - Born on the 7th of March.
1732 - He served in Rhode Island's colonial assembly.
1738 - He served as a Speaker.
1754 - He represented Rhode Island at the Albany Congress in New York, where he and others considered Benjamin Franklin's early plan for uniting the colonies and arranging an alliance with the Indians, in view of the impending war with France.
1753 - Hopkins helped to found a subscription library, the Providence Library Company and was a member of the Philosophical Society of Newport.
1755 - He was elected Governor of Rhode Island nine times.
1764 - He published a pamphlet "The Rights of the Colonies Examined" whose broad distribution and criticism of taxation and Parliament built his reputation as a revolutionary leader.
1773 - He freed his slaves, and the following year, while serving in the Rhode Island Assembly.
1774 - He introduced a bill that prohibited the importation of slaves into the colony. This became one of the first anti-slavery laws in the new United States.
1776 - He led the colony's delegation to the Continental Congress later, along with Samuel Ward , and was a proud signer of the Declaration of Independence.
1776 - In September, his poor health forced him to resign from the Continental Congress and return to his home in Rhode Island.
1777-1779 - Hopkins remained an active member of Rhode Island's general assembly.
1785 - Died at his home in Providence on the 13th of July at the age of 78.
William Ellery
1727 - Born on the 22nd of December in Newport, Rhode Island.
1742 - Graduated in Harvard College at the age of 15.
1770 - He was admitted to the bar.
1776 - 1781 - Served Rhode Island as a delegate to the Continental Congress.
1776 - Was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, as a representative of Rhode Island.
1785 - He had become an abolitionist.
1790 - 1820 - He was collector of the port of Newport.
1820 - Died on the 15th of February in Rhode Island, at the age of 92.
1727 - Born on the 22nd of December in Newport, Rhode Island.
1742 - Graduated in Harvard College at the age of 15.
1770 - He was admitted to the bar.
1776 - 1781 - Served Rhode Island as a delegate to the Continental Congress.
1776 - Was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, as a representative of Rhode Island.
1785 - He had become an abolitionist.
1790 - 1820 - He was collector of the port of Newport.
1820 - Died on the 15th of February in Rhode Island, at the age of 92.
Edward Rutledge
1749 - Born 1749 at or near Charleston, South Carolina.
- United States lawyer and politician in American Revolution.
1774-1777 - South Carolina delegate to Continental Congress.
1776 - At the age of 26, was a signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from South Carolina. When the vote on independence came up on July 1, he refused to yield and South Carolina balloted negatively. But nine of the Colonies voted affirmatively. Rutledge, realizing that the resolution would probably carry anyway, proposed that the vote be recast the following day. He persuaded the other South Carolina Delegates to submit to the will of the majority for the sake of unanimity, and South Carolina reversed its position.
1779 - As a militia captain, in February, he took part in Gen. William Moultrie's defeat of the British at Port Royal Island, S.C. But in May, 1780, during the siege of Charleston, the redcoats captured Rutledge, as well as Heyward and Middleton, and imprisoned them at St. Augustine, Fla., until July 1781.
1798-1800 - Governor of South Carolina.
1800 - he died at Charleston early in 1800 at the age of 50, nearly a year before the end of his term as Governor.
1749 - Born 1749 at or near Charleston, South Carolina.
- United States lawyer and politician in American Revolution.
1774-1777 - South Carolina delegate to Continental Congress.
1776 - At the age of 26, was a signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from South Carolina. When the vote on independence came up on July 1, he refused to yield and South Carolina balloted negatively. But nine of the Colonies voted affirmatively. Rutledge, realizing that the resolution would probably carry anyway, proposed that the vote be recast the following day. He persuaded the other South Carolina Delegates to submit to the will of the majority for the sake of unanimity, and South Carolina reversed its position.
1779 - As a militia captain, in February, he took part in Gen. William Moultrie's defeat of the British at Port Royal Island, S.C. But in May, 1780, during the siege of Charleston, the redcoats captured Rutledge, as well as Heyward and Middleton, and imprisoned them at St. Augustine, Fla., until July 1781.
1798-1800 - Governor of South Carolina.
1800 - he died at Charleston early in 1800 at the age of 50, nearly a year before the end of his term as Governor.
Benjamin Harrison V
1726 - Born in Charles City County, Virginia
1749-1775 - held a seat in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
1774-1778 - represented Virginia in the Continental Congress.
1776 - Not only did he sign the Declaration of Independence, but he chaired the debates of it in Congress.
- Known for his sense of humor, Harrison remarked after signing the Declaration, "I shall have a great advantage over you, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, when we are all hung for what we are now doing. From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead."
- His great house on the James River was plundered by soldiers under the command of Benedict Arnold in late 1780. As a a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, he fled into the Blue Ridge Mountains with Patrick Henry and John Tyler when Cornwallis attacked Charlottesville.
1791 - Died April 24, in Charles City County, Virginia,at the age of 65.
1726 - Born in Charles City County, Virginia
1749-1775 - held a seat in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
1774-1778 - represented Virginia in the Continental Congress.
1776 - Not only did he sign the Declaration of Independence, but he chaired the debates of it in Congress.
- Known for his sense of humor, Harrison remarked after signing the Declaration, "I shall have a great advantage over you, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, when we are all hung for what we are now doing. From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead."
- His great house on the James River was plundered by soldiers under the command of Benedict Arnold in late 1780. As a a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, he fled into the Blue Ridge Mountains with Patrick Henry and John Tyler when Cornwallis attacked Charlottesville.
1791 - Died April 24, in Charles City County, Virginia,at the age of 65.
George Wythe
1726- Born in Elizabeth City County, Virginia
1746 - admitted to the bar
- served in the Virginia House of Burgesses
1764 - drafted a Virginia protest against the proposed Stamp Act
1775-1776 - served in the Continental Congress and revised Virginia’s laws with Thomas Jefferson and Edmund Pendleton.
1776 - a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
1779 - became chair of law at the College of William and Mary, the first such chair in America, until 1790.
1787 - a delegate at the Constitutional Convention. at which the U.S. Constitution was adopted and the United States of America was officially formed. He was one of the non-signing deleates at the Convention, meaning that he participated in the Convention but was not one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution.
1788 - Helped secure Virginia’s ratification of the Constitution.
1806 - Died, at 80 years of age.
1726- Born in Elizabeth City County, Virginia
1746 - admitted to the bar
- served in the Virginia House of Burgesses
1764 - drafted a Virginia protest against the proposed Stamp Act
1775-1776 - served in the Continental Congress and revised Virginia’s laws with Thomas Jefferson and Edmund Pendleton.
1776 - a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
1779 - became chair of law at the College of William and Mary, the first such chair in America, until 1790.
1787 - a delegate at the Constitutional Convention. at which the U.S. Constitution was adopted and the United States of America was officially formed. He was one of the non-signing deleates at the Convention, meaning that he participated in the Convention but was not one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution.
1788 - Helped secure Virginia’s ratification of the Constitution.
1806 - Died, at 80 years of age.
Richard Henry Lee
1732 - born in Stratford, Westmoreland County, Virginia on January 20.
- sent to England and educated at the academy of Wakefield in Yorkshire.
1752 - he returned to Virginia, where he began to practice law.
1757 - he was appointed justice of the peace for Westmoreland County.
1761 - 1788 - he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.
1774 - Lee was chosen as a delegate to the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1775 - he became a Colonel of militia in Westmoreland County.
- It was Lee who put forth the motion in the Continental Congress to create a Declaration of Independence. Due to Lee's absence from the Congress because of his wife's illness, it was Thomas Jefferson who was chosen to write the Declaration.
- He opposed creation of the United States Constitution as creating too powerful a central government. It was through his urgings that the Tenth Amendment, reserving all unlisted powers to the people, was created.
1789 - was elected United States Senator, but he was forced to resign in 1792 due to ill health.
1794 - died at his home, Chantilly, in Westmoreland County on June 19.
1732 - born in Stratford, Westmoreland County, Virginia on January 20.
- sent to England and educated at the academy of Wakefield in Yorkshire.
1752 - he returned to Virginia, where he began to practice law.
1757 - he was appointed justice of the peace for Westmoreland County.
1761 - 1788 - he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.
1774 - Lee was chosen as a delegate to the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1775 - he became a Colonel of militia in Westmoreland County.
- It was Lee who put forth the motion in the Continental Congress to create a Declaration of Independence. Due to Lee's absence from the Congress because of his wife's illness, it was Thomas Jefferson who was chosen to write the Declaration.
- He opposed creation of the United States Constitution as creating too powerful a central government. It was through his urgings that the Tenth Amendment, reserving all unlisted powers to the people, was created.
1789 - was elected United States Senator, but he was forced to resign in 1792 due to ill health.
1794 - died at his home, Chantilly, in Westmoreland County on June 19.
Thomas Jefferson
1743 - was born on April 13, 1743.
- architect, diplomat, inventor, politician, and scholar
1769-1774 - a member of House of Burgesses.
1775-1776 - a Virginia delegate to Continental Congress
1776 - He appointed by Continental Congress as chairman of 5-member committee. He wrote Declaration of Independence.
1776 - a Signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from Virginia.
1776-1779 - becomes a member of Virginia house of delegates.
1779-1781 - He served as Governor of Virginia.
1783-1784 - Once again he is the Virginia delegate to Continental Congress
1785-1789 - Jefferson served as US ambassador to France.
1786 - He drafted Virginia Statute of Religious Liberty.
1789-1793 - He becomes the 1st Secretary of State.
1797-1801 - Jefferson was elected as Vice-President of the United States.
1797-1815 - President of American Philosophical Society
1801-1809 - He becomes the 3rd president of the United States.
- He advocated agrarian republic with decentralized government and safeguarding of civil liberties.
1801-1805 - Jefferson halted tribute to Tripolitan pirates and oversaw Tripolitan War.
1802 - He wrote "wall of separation" letter to Danbury Baptist Association.
1803 - bought Louisiana Purchase from France, roughly doubling size of the United States.
1804-1806 - He commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore newly acquired territory
1807 - He signed law banning importation of slaves into US (into effect 1808)
1807 - By releasing only select information for Aaron Burr's treason trial, established precedent of executive privilege
1807 - To punish Britain and France for seizures of United States' ships, signed Embargo Act of1807, halting sea trade with all foreign nations
1809 - He signed Non-Intercourse Act 1809, limiting embargo only to trade with Britain and France.
1819 - founded University of Virginia (chartered 1819, opened 1825).
- He invented dumbwaiter and swivel chair.
1826 - died on the 4th of July, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the same day as John Adams' death.
1743 - was born on April 13, 1743.
- architect, diplomat, inventor, politician, and scholar
1769-1774 - a member of House of Burgesses.
1775-1776 - a Virginia delegate to Continental Congress
1776 - He appointed by Continental Congress as chairman of 5-member committee. He wrote Declaration of Independence.
1776 - a Signer of Declaration of Independence as delegate from Virginia.
1776-1779 - becomes a member of Virginia house of delegates.
1779-1781 - He served as Governor of Virginia.
1783-1784 - Once again he is the Virginia delegate to Continental Congress
1785-1789 - Jefferson served as US ambassador to France.
1786 - He drafted Virginia Statute of Religious Liberty.
1789-1793 - He becomes the 1st Secretary of State.
1797-1801 - Jefferson was elected as Vice-President of the United States.
1797-1815 - President of American Philosophical Society
1801-1809 - He becomes the 3rd president of the United States.
- He advocated agrarian republic with decentralized government and safeguarding of civil liberties.
1801-1805 - Jefferson halted tribute to Tripolitan pirates and oversaw Tripolitan War.
1802 - He wrote "wall of separation" letter to Danbury Baptist Association.
1803 - bought Louisiana Purchase from France, roughly doubling size of the United States.
1804-1806 - He commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore newly acquired territory
1807 - He signed law banning importation of slaves into US (into effect 1808)
1807 - By releasing only select information for Aaron Burr's treason trial, established precedent of executive privilege
1807 - To punish Britain and France for seizures of United States' ships, signed Embargo Act of1807, halting sea trade with all foreign nations
1809 - He signed Non-Intercourse Act 1809, limiting embargo only to trade with Britain and France.
1819 - founded University of Virginia (chartered 1819, opened 1825).
- He invented dumbwaiter and swivel chair.
1826 - died on the 4th of July, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the same day as John Adams' death.
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
1738 - Born on the 26th of December in Yorktown, Virginia.
1760 - He attended Eton before entering Trinity College at Cambridge University.
1761 - He was first elected to the Virginia house of Burgesses.
1762 - He married Sally Cary.
1774 - He was a member of the rebel convention.
1775 - He resigned the post when elected to the Continental Congress.
1776 - He returned to Congress in time to sign the Declaration of Independence.
1779 - he resumed service, as commanding General of the Lower Virginia Militia, at a time when British forces began aggressive campaigns against the southern colonies.
1781 - Finally overcome by illness in October of that year, General Nelson retired from public service.
1789 - He died at one of his estates, in Hanover County, on January 4, 1789, at the age of 50.
1738 - Born on the 26th of December in Yorktown, Virginia.
1760 - He attended Eton before entering Trinity College at Cambridge University.
1761 - He was first elected to the Virginia house of Burgesses.
1762 - He married Sally Cary.
1774 - He was a member of the rebel convention.
1775 - He resigned the post when elected to the Continental Congress.
1776 - He returned to Congress in time to sign the Declaration of Independence.
1779 - he resumed service, as commanding General of the Lower Virginia Militia, at a time when British forces began aggressive campaigns against the southern colonies.
1781 - Finally overcome by illness in October of that year, General Nelson retired from public service.
1789 - He died at one of his estates, in Hanover County, on January 4, 1789, at the age of 50.
THE UNITED STATES DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776. It is our nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Thomas Jefferson's most enduring monument. In exalted and unforgettable phrases, Thomas Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental philosophers. What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of grievances against the King of England in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country.
The Committee Of Five
The committee consisted of two New England men, John Adams of Massachusetts and Roger Sherman of Connecticut; two men from the Middle Colonies, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York; and one southerner, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. (It was Richard Henry Lee who put forth the motion in the Continental Congress to create a Declaration of Independence. Due to Lee's absence from the Congress because of his wife's illness, it was Thomas Jefferson who was chosen to write the Declaration.).
The Committee Of Five
The committee consisted of two New England men, John Adams of Massachusetts and Roger Sherman of Connecticut; two men from the Middle Colonies, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York; and one southerner, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. (It was Richard Henry Lee who put forth the motion in the Continental Congress to create a Declaration of Independence. Due to Lee's absence from the Congress because of his wife's illness, it was Thomas Jefferson who was chosen to write the Declaration.).
In 1823 Thomas Jefferson wrote that the other members of the committee "unanimously pressed on myself alone to undertake the draught [sic]. I consented; I drew it; but before I reported it to the committee I communicated it separately to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams requesting their corrections.... I then wrote a fair copy, reported it to the committee, and from them, unaltered to the Congress."
Thomas Jefferson's account reflects three stages in the life of the Declaration: (1) the document originally written by Jefferson; (2) the changes to that document made by Franklin and Adams, resulting in the version that was submitted by the Committee of Five to the Congress; and (3) the version that was eventually adopted.
Thomas Jefferson's account reflects three stages in the life of the Declaration: (1) the document originally written by Jefferson; (2) the changes to that document made by Franklin and Adams, resulting in the version that was submitted by the Committee of Five to the Congress; and (3) the version that was eventually adopted.
On July 1, 1776, Congress reconvened. The following day, the Lee Resolution for independence was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies, New York not voting. Immediately afterward, the Congress began to consider the Declaration. Adams and Franklin had made only a few changes before the committee submitted the document. The discussion in Congress resulted in some alterations and deletions, but the basic document remained Thomas Jefferson's. The process of revision continued through all of July 3 and into the late morning of July 4. Then, at last, church bells rang out over Philadelphia; the Declaration had been officially adopted.
The Declaration of Independence is made up of five distinct parts: the introduction; the preamble; the body, which can be divided into two sections; and a conclusion.
The introduction states that this document will "declare" the "causes" that have made it necessary for the American colonies to leave the British Empire. Having stated in the introduction that independence is unavoidable, even necessary.
The preamble sets out principles that were already recognized to be "self-evident" by most 18th- century Englishmen, closing with the statement that "a long train of abuses and usurpations.... evinces a design to reduce [a people] under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
The first section of the body of the Declaration gives evidence of the "long train of abuses and usurpations" heaped upon the colonists by King George III.
The second section of the body states that the colonists had appealed in vain to their "British brethren" for a redress of their grievances. Having stated the conditions that made independence necessary and having shown that those conditions existed in British North America.
The Declaration concludes that "these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved."
Although Congress had adopted the Declaration submitted by the Committee of Five, the committee's task was not yet completed. Congress had also directed that the committee supervise the printing of the adopted document.
The first printed copies of the Declaration of Independence were turned out from the shop of John Dunlap, the official printer to the Congress. After the Declaration had been adopted, the committee took the manuscript document to Dunlap. On the morning of July 5, copies were dispatched by members of Congress to various assemblies, conventions, and committees of safety as well as to the commanders of Continental troops. Also a copy of the printed version of the approved Declaration was inserted into the "rough journal" of the Continental Congress for July 4. The text was followed by the words "Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Congress, John Hancock, President. Attest. Charles Thomson, Secretary."
It is not known how many copies John Dunlap printed on his busy night of July 4. There are 24 copies known to exist of what is commonly referred to as "the Dunlap broadside," 17 owned by American institutions, 2 by British institutions, and 5 by private owners.
On July 9 the action of Congress was officially approved by the New York Convention. All 13 colonies had now signified their approval. On July 19, therefore, Congress was able to order that the Declaration be "fairly engrossed on parchment, with the title and stile [sic] of 'The unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America,' and that the same, when engrossed, be signed by every member of Congress."
John Hancock, the President of the Congress, was the first to sign the sheet of parchment measuring 24¼ by 29¾ inches. He used a bold signature centered below the text. In accordance with prevailing custom, the other delegates began to sign at the right below the text, their signatures arranged according to the geographic location of the states they represented. New Hampshire, the northernmost state, began the list, and Georgia, the southernmost, ended it. Eventually 56 delegates signed, although all were not present on August 2.
Among the later signers were Elbridge Gerry, Oliver Wolcott, Lewis Morris, Thomas McKean, and Matthew Thornton, who found that he had no room to sign with the other New Hampshire delegates. A few delegates who voted for adoption of the Declaration on July 4 were never to sign in spite of the July 19 order of Congress that the engrossed document "be signed by every member of Congress."
Non-signers included John Dickinson, who clung to the idea of reconciliation with Britain, and Robert R. Livingston, one of the Committee of Five, who thought the Declaration was premature.
The Declaration of Independence is made up of five distinct parts: the introduction; the preamble; the body, which can be divided into two sections; and a conclusion.
The introduction states that this document will "declare" the "causes" that have made it necessary for the American colonies to leave the British Empire. Having stated in the introduction that independence is unavoidable, even necessary.
The preamble sets out principles that were already recognized to be "self-evident" by most 18th- century Englishmen, closing with the statement that "a long train of abuses and usurpations.... evinces a design to reduce [a people] under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
The first section of the body of the Declaration gives evidence of the "long train of abuses and usurpations" heaped upon the colonists by King George III.
The second section of the body states that the colonists had appealed in vain to their "British brethren" for a redress of their grievances. Having stated the conditions that made independence necessary and having shown that those conditions existed in British North America.
The Declaration concludes that "these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved."
Although Congress had adopted the Declaration submitted by the Committee of Five, the committee's task was not yet completed. Congress had also directed that the committee supervise the printing of the adopted document.
The first printed copies of the Declaration of Independence were turned out from the shop of John Dunlap, the official printer to the Congress. After the Declaration had been adopted, the committee took the manuscript document to Dunlap. On the morning of July 5, copies were dispatched by members of Congress to various assemblies, conventions, and committees of safety as well as to the commanders of Continental troops. Also a copy of the printed version of the approved Declaration was inserted into the "rough journal" of the Continental Congress for July 4. The text was followed by the words "Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Congress, John Hancock, President. Attest. Charles Thomson, Secretary."
It is not known how many copies John Dunlap printed on his busy night of July 4. There are 24 copies known to exist of what is commonly referred to as "the Dunlap broadside," 17 owned by American institutions, 2 by British institutions, and 5 by private owners.
On July 9 the action of Congress was officially approved by the New York Convention. All 13 colonies had now signified their approval. On July 19, therefore, Congress was able to order that the Declaration be "fairly engrossed on parchment, with the title and stile [sic] of 'The unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America,' and that the same, when engrossed, be signed by every member of Congress."
John Hancock, the President of the Congress, was the first to sign the sheet of parchment measuring 24¼ by 29¾ inches. He used a bold signature centered below the text. In accordance with prevailing custom, the other delegates began to sign at the right below the text, their signatures arranged according to the geographic location of the states they represented. New Hampshire, the northernmost state, began the list, and Georgia, the southernmost, ended it. Eventually 56 delegates signed, although all were not present on August 2.
Among the later signers were Elbridge Gerry, Oliver Wolcott, Lewis Morris, Thomas McKean, and Matthew Thornton, who found that he had no room to sign with the other New Hampshire delegates. A few delegates who voted for adoption of the Declaration on July 4 were never to sign in spite of the July 19 order of Congress that the engrossed document "be signed by every member of Congress."
Non-signers included John Dickinson, who clung to the idea of reconciliation with Britain, and Robert R. Livingston, one of the Committee of Five, who thought the Declaration was premature.
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
In Congress, July 4, 1776,
THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
JohnHancockSignature.jpg
JOHN HANCOCK, President
Attested, CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary
Members Of The Continental Congress
who Signed The Declaration Of Independence
List Of Signers
Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the Declaration:
President of Congress
1. John Hancock (Massachusetts)
New Hampshire
2. Josiah Bartlett
3. William Whipple
4. Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts
5. Samuel Adams
6. John Adams
7. Robert Treat Paine
8. Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island
9. Stephen Hopkins
10. William Ellery
Connecticut
11. Roger Sherman
12. Samuel Huntington
13. William Williams
14. Oliver Wolcott
New York
15. William Floyd
16. Philip Livingston
17. Francis Lewis
18. Lewis Morris
New Jersey
19. Richard Stockton
20. John Witherspoon
21. Francis Hopkinson
22. John Hart
23. Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania
24. Robert Morris
25. Benjamin Rush
26. Benjamin Franklin
27. John Morton
28. George Clymer
29. James Smith
30. George Taylor
31. James Wilson
32. George Ross
Delaware
33. George Read
34. Caesar Rodney
35. Thomas McKean
Maryland
36. Samuel Chase
37. William Paca
38. Thomas Stone
39. Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia
40. George Wythe
41. Richard Henry Lee
42. Thomas Jefferson
43. Benjamin Harrison
44. Thomas Nelson, Jr.
45. Francis Lightfoot Lee
46. Carter Braxton
North Carolina
47. William Hooper
48. Joseph Hewes
49. John Penn
South Carolina
50. Edward Rutledge
51. Thomas Heyward, Jr.
52. Thomas Lynch, Jr.
53. Arthur Middleton
Georgia
54. Button Gwinnett
55. Lyman Hall
56. George Walton
Details Of The Signers
Of the approximately fifty delegates who are thought to have been present in Congress during the voting on independence in early July 1776, eight never signed the Declaration: John Alsop, George Clinton, John Dickinson, Charles Humphreys, Robert R. Livingston, John Rogers, Thomas Willing, and Henry Wisner.
George Clinton, Robert R. Livingston, and Henry Wisner were attending to duties away from Congress when the signing took place.
Thomas Willing and Charles Humphreys, who voted against the resolution of independence, were replaced in the Pennsylvania delegation before the August 2 signing.
John Rogers had voted for the resolution of independence but was no longer a delegate on August 2.
John Alsop, who favored reconciliation with Great Britain, resigned rather than add his name to the document.
Dickinson refused to sign, believing the Declaration premature, but remained in Congress.
Although George Read had voted against the resolution of independence, and Robert Morris had abstained, they both signed the Declaration.
THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
JohnHancockSignature.jpg
JOHN HANCOCK, President
Attested, CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary
Members Of The Continental Congress
who Signed The Declaration Of Independence
List Of Signers
Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the Declaration:
President of Congress
1. John Hancock (Massachusetts)
New Hampshire
2. Josiah Bartlett
3. William Whipple
4. Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts
5. Samuel Adams
6. John Adams
7. Robert Treat Paine
8. Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island
9. Stephen Hopkins
10. William Ellery
Connecticut
11. Roger Sherman
12. Samuel Huntington
13. William Williams
14. Oliver Wolcott
New York
15. William Floyd
16. Philip Livingston
17. Francis Lewis
18. Lewis Morris
New Jersey
19. Richard Stockton
20. John Witherspoon
21. Francis Hopkinson
22. John Hart
23. Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania
24. Robert Morris
25. Benjamin Rush
26. Benjamin Franklin
27. John Morton
28. George Clymer
29. James Smith
30. George Taylor
31. James Wilson
32. George Ross
Delaware
33. George Read
34. Caesar Rodney
35. Thomas McKean
Maryland
36. Samuel Chase
37. William Paca
38. Thomas Stone
39. Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia
40. George Wythe
41. Richard Henry Lee
42. Thomas Jefferson
43. Benjamin Harrison
44. Thomas Nelson, Jr.
45. Francis Lightfoot Lee
46. Carter Braxton
North Carolina
47. William Hooper
48. Joseph Hewes
49. John Penn
South Carolina
50. Edward Rutledge
51. Thomas Heyward, Jr.
52. Thomas Lynch, Jr.
53. Arthur Middleton
Georgia
54. Button Gwinnett
55. Lyman Hall
56. George Walton
Details Of The Signers
Of the approximately fifty delegates who are thought to have been present in Congress during the voting on independence in early July 1776, eight never signed the Declaration: John Alsop, George Clinton, John Dickinson, Charles Humphreys, Robert R. Livingston, John Rogers, Thomas Willing, and Henry Wisner.
George Clinton, Robert R. Livingston, and Henry Wisner were attending to duties away from Congress when the signing took place.
Thomas Willing and Charles Humphreys, who voted against the resolution of independence, were replaced in the Pennsylvania delegation before the August 2 signing.
John Rogers had voted for the resolution of independence but was no longer a delegate on August 2.
John Alsop, who favored reconciliation with Great Britain, resigned rather than add his name to the document.
Dickinson refused to sign, believing the Declaration premature, but remained in Congress.
Although George Read had voted against the resolution of independence, and Robert Morris had abstained, they both signed the Declaration.
The most famous signature on the engrossed copy is that of John Hancock, who, as President of Congress, presumably signed first. Hancock's large, flamboyant signature became iconic, and John Hancock emerged in the United States as an informal synonym for "signature". Two future presidents, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, were among the signatories. Edward Rutledge (age 26) was the youngest signer, and Benjamin Franklin (age 70) was the oldest signer.
Some delegates, including Samuel Chase, were away on business when the Declaration was debated, but were back in Congress to sign on August 2. Other delegates were present when the Declaration was debated but added their names after August 2, including Elbridge Gerry, Lewis Morris, Oliver Wolcott, and Thomas McKean. Richard Henry Lee and George Wythe were in Virginia during July and August, but returned to Congress and signed the Declaration probably in September and October, respectively.
As new delegates joined the Congress, they were also allowed to sign. Eight men signed the Declaration who did not takes seats in Congress until after July 4: Matthew Thornton, William Williams, Benjamin Rush, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, George Ross, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton.] Because of a lack of space, Thornton was unable to sign next to the other New Hampshire delegates; he instead placed his signature at the end of the document, on the lower right.
The first published version of the Declaration, the Dunlap broadside, did not list the signers. The public did not learn who had signed the engrossed copy until January 18, 1777, when the Congress ordered that an "authenticated copy", including the names of the signers, be sent to each of the thirteen states. This copy, the Goddard Broadside, was the first to list the signers.
Some delegates, including Samuel Chase, were away on business when the Declaration was debated, but were back in Congress to sign on August 2. Other delegates were present when the Declaration was debated but added their names after August 2, including Elbridge Gerry, Lewis Morris, Oliver Wolcott, and Thomas McKean. Richard Henry Lee and George Wythe were in Virginia during July and August, but returned to Congress and signed the Declaration probably in September and October, respectively.
As new delegates joined the Congress, they were also allowed to sign. Eight men signed the Declaration who did not takes seats in Congress until after July 4: Matthew Thornton, William Williams, Benjamin Rush, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, George Ross, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton.] Because of a lack of space, Thornton was unable to sign next to the other New Hampshire delegates; he instead placed his signature at the end of the document, on the lower right.
The first published version of the Declaration, the Dunlap broadside, did not list the signers. The public did not learn who had signed the engrossed copy until January 18, 1777, when the Congress ordered that an "authenticated copy", including the names of the signers, be sent to each of the thirteen states. This copy, the Goddard Broadside, was the first to list the signers.
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