Special Sub-Topic: The Declaration of Independence Authored by: bullymom Sub-topic of: Declaration of Independence

Which of these men was NOT among those appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence?

George Washington. The Continental Congress appointed Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston to draft the document. Most of it was written by Jefferson, with some changes being made by Adams and Franklin.

The committee presented its draft before the Congress on June 28, 1776. On July 1, a vote was taken, and all but two states approved the Declaration. Which two voted no?

Pennsylvania and South Carolina. New York abstained. South Carolina and Pennsylvania changed their minds for the next vote, taken on July 2. Several days later New York changed its abstention to approval, making the vote unanimous.

Copies of the Declaration were signed by John Hancock, President of the Congress, and this man, its secretary.

Charles Thompson. The first Continental Congress met in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774. Its President was Peyton Randolph, a Virginia lawyer and member of the House of Burgesses.

What is the first word of the Declaration?

When. The first sentence in the Preamble: "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds 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."

Why was Thomas Jefferson chosen for the actual writing of the draft?

He was from Virginia. Although Jefferson was obviously a very gifted man and talented writer, the main reason he was chosen to draft the Declaration was his status as a Virginian. The New England colonies had already been branded as rebellious and unpopular, and it was thought that something written by a Southerner might be taken more seriously. Adams was not chosen because he was from Massachusetts; Franklin because his son was a staunch loyalist; Livingston because he did not like the idea of a declaration; and Sherman simply could not write.

Of all the colonies, which state had the most signatories?

Pennsylvania. There were nine delegates from Pennsylvania: George Clymer, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, James Smith, George Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Ross, and James Wilson.

True or false: All of the signatories signed the Declaration at the same time.

False. Although most people have the image of the delegates lined up in Independence Hall to sign the Declaration on July 4, this is not how it happened. Many historians believe that only John Hancock signed the document on July 4, with no other signatures being added until August 2, when the Declaration had been placed on parchment at the order of Congress. Other delegates did not get around to signing it until September.

Where is the Declaration kept today?

National Archives. The Declaration is housed in a special section of the rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, DC, along with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. At night, the documents are stored in an underground vault. They are closely monitored by a state-of-the-art computer system and $3 million camera.

There are 24 known copies of the version of the Declaration known as the "Dunlap Broadside", named after John Dunlap. Who was he?

A printer. John Dunlap was the official printer to the Congress. He produced the first copies of the Declaration, which, on July 5, were distributed by members of Congress to assemblies, conventions, and commanders of the troops (remember, this was before cable TV and fax machines).

One member of Congress who did not sign the Declaration was John Dickinson. What was his reason?

He was hoping for a reconciliation with Britain. The "last of the moderates", Dickinson was reluctant to cut the proverbial apron strings with Mother England. Fortunately, he was in the minority.