Declaration of Independence (United States)

The Declaration of Independence is the document in which the Thirteen Colonies declared themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their justifications for doing so. It was ratified by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776; this anniversary is celebrated as Independence Day in the United States. A copy of the document is on display in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The independence of the American colonies was recognized by Great Britain on September 3, 1783, by the Treaty of Paris.

Signatories of the declaration

On July 19, 1776, Congress ordered a copy be handwritten for the delegates to sign. This copy of the Declaration was produced by Timothy Matlack, assistant to the secretary of Congress. Most of the delegates signed it on August 2, 1776, in geographic order of their colonies from north to south, though some delegates were not present and had to sign later. Two delegates never signed at all. As new delegates joined the congress, they were also allowed to sign. A total of 56 delegates eventually signed. This is the copy on display at the National Archives.

Related Topics:
July 19 - 1776 - Timothy Matlack - August 2

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The first and most famous signature on the Declaration was that of John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. The other fifty-five signers of the Declaration represented the new states as follows:

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

Related Topics:
New Hampshire - Josiah Bartlett - William Whipple - Matthew Thornton

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;Massachusetts: Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry;

Related Topics:
Massachusetts - Samuel Adams - John Adams - Robert Treat Paine - Elbridge Gerry

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;Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery;

Related Topics:
Rhode Island - Stephen Hopkins - William Ellery

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

Related Topics:
Connecticut - Roger Sherman - Samuel Huntington - William Williams - Oliver Wolcott

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

Related Topics:
New York - William Floyd - Philip Livingston - Francis Lewis - Lewis Morris

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

Related Topics:
New Jersey - Richard Stockton - John Witherspoon - Francis Hopkinson - John Hart - Abraham Clark

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

Related Topics:
Pennsylvania - Robert Morris - Benjamin Rush - Benjamin Franklin - John Morton - George Clymer - James Smith - George Taylor - James Wilson - George Ross

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;Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean;

Related Topics:
Delaware - Caesar Rodney - George Read - Thomas McKean

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;Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton;

Related Topics:
Maryland - Samuel Chase - William Paca - Thomas Stone - Charles Carroll of Carrollton

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

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

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

Related Topics:
North Carolina - William Hooper - Joseph Hewes - John Penn

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

Related Topics:
South Carolina - Edward Rutledge - Thomas Heyward, Jr. - Thomas Lynch, Jr. - Arthur Middleton

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;Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton.

Related Topics:
Georgia - Button Gwinnett - Lyman Hall - George Walton

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