Who Signed the Declaration of Independence?

For many years, the King and the English Parliament ruled the colonies of England. They passed laws and imposed taxes on the colonists. These laws and taxes were put into effect without the benefit of direct representation of the colonies among the parliament. As British citizens, the colonists felt their right was to be represented in Parliament. The colonists of the New World decided to form their own country by signing a Declaration of Independence.

After Jefferson had finished writing the document, it was presented to the other delegates in the Second Continental Congress. After much discussion of the wording and points cited in the document, all the delegates finally approved it on July 4, 1776. It was not signed until August 2, 1776.

The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates. Each of the members that had been elected by the states to the Second Continental Congress signed their names. Among the signatures of the document are those of two U.S. Presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the President of the Second Continental Congress, John Hancock, and the inventor and statesman, Benjamin Franklin.

Reason the Declaration of Independence Was Written

When their rights as English citizens were violated and ignored, the colonists sent a list of complaints to the King. As was typical, the King ignored the complaints and continued to rule without regard for the colonists or their needs.

The colonies formed the First Continental Congress to formally deal with the various complaints and to present them to the King. After the first list of complaints received no response, the Second Continental Congress was formed. Each of the colonies selected delegates to send to the Second Continental Congress. Each colony selected representatives to protect their interests in the proceedings and to address their grievances.

Writing the Declaration of Independence

The Second Continental Congress met to discuss what recourse they had against the abuses and tyrannical treatment they were receiving. During the discussion of the problems, they wrote a list of abuses perpetrated by the occupying British Army, including unfair imposition of taxes and unfair laws that were passed by Parliament that affected the colonists negatively.

After the discussion was finished, they selected a member of the Congress to draft a final letter to the King. The purpose of the letter was to declare the intention of the British colonies in America to become independent colonies that were no longer subject to the rule of England or the King.

The delegates from the states selected Thomas Jefferson to become the author of the document.\

After much deliberation, he:

• Put the complaints of the colonies on paper
• Outlined all their grievances
• Expressed the rights of all men to fair government
• Wrote that men had the right to overthrow unfair governments and to establish new ones
• Declared the withdrawal of the colonies of America from the rule of the British and from the protection of the King

The Declaration of Independence is perhaps one of the finest documents in this country’s history. It not only was a statement of human rights, but it also outlined the assertion of natural rights that men have, including the right to revolt against unfair and tyrannical rule.

Effects of the Declaration of Independence

After the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence, the public support and outcry against British rule was tremendous. Citizens participated in the tearing down of all indications of loyalty to royalty. The statue of King George on horseback was torn down, melted, and used to make musket balls. Many public readings of the Declaration of Independence were also performed across the colonies. The hope was that the document would incite the public and encourage them to join the army.

The war for independence would be long and hard fought but would eventually the colonists would succeed. The British would be driven from American soil and the colonies and their new country would be free and independent of England.