Every U.S. student will learn about the Declaration of Independence at some point in their education. As you lead your kids in exploring this seminal document, what will you tell them? If you’re looking for inspiration in helping them grasp the significance of the Declaration, look no further. We’ve compiled 41 facts about the Declaration of Independence that will engage your students in the groundbreaking nature of this fascinating aspect of our nation’s history. You might even learn something new yourself; let’s dive in!
1. The Date of Adoption
The Declaration of Independence was formally adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Although the actual signing did not take place until later, this date is marked as the birth of American independence. This is why July 4 is celebrated as Independence Day in the United States.
Learn More: Britannica
2. Primary Author of the Declaration
Thomas Jefferson is credited as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. He was chosen to draft the document, which was then edited by the Committee of Five, including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson’s draft was further edited by the whole Congress before it was ratified.
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3. The Anonymity of the Signers
When the Declaration was first published, the names of the signers were not immediately made public. This was to protect them from potential charges of treason against the British Crown. The full list of signers was released in January 1777.
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4. The First Public Reading
The first large public reading of the Declaration of Independence took place in Philadelphia’s Independence Square on July 8, 1776. It was read by Colonel John Nixon of the Philadelphia Committee of Safety. It is often said that the Liberty Bell was rung to summon citizens to listen to the reading, though this is open for debate.
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5. The Number of Signatures
The Declaration of Independence has 56 signers. The number includes representatives from all 13 colonies, which became the first states of the United States. Each signer was a member of the Second Continental Congress when they signed the document.
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6. The First Signature
John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. His signature is the most prominent and recognizable on the document. Because of this, “John Hancock” has since become an idiomatic term for one’s signature in the United States.
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7. The Location of the Signing
The Declaration of Independence was signed in what is now known as Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time, it was the Pennsylvania State House. This historic site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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8. The Declaration’s Global Influence
The United States Declaration of Independence inspired many other countries during their own struggles for independence and has had a lasting global impact. Elements of it can be seen in the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and numerous other international documents and constitutions. It remains a seminal document in the history of democracy.
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9. The Declaration’s Journey During the Revolutionary War
During the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence was moved several times to prevent it from falling into British hands. It has been housed in various cities including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and eventually Washington, D.C. It currently resides in the National Archives.
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10. The Famous Preamble
The preamble of the Declaration of Independence includes the famous phrase “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” This sentence has become one of the most well-known statements in the English language. It encapsulates the Enlightenment ideals that form the foundation of American political thought.
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11. The Use of the Term “Unanimous”
The full title of the document is “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America“. The term “unanimous” was important because it emphasized the collective agreement and resolve of all thirteen colonies to separate from British rule. This unity was critical in the struggle for independence that followed.
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12. The Original Declaration Was Lost
The original Declaration of Independence, as written by Thomas Jefferson and revised by the Committee of Five and the Continental Congress, is lost to history. What remains is the engrossed version signed by the Congress members. This engrossed copy is the one on display at the National Archives.
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13. The Declaration as a Legal Document
While the Declaration was and is often seen as a philosophical and political statement, it also served as a legal document, severing the colonies’ ties with Britain. It was a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.
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14. A Global Announcement
Copies of the Declaration were dispatched by members of the Continental Congress to various assemblies, conventions, Committees of Safety, and commanding officers of the Continental troops. This was to broadcast the new status of the thirteen colonies to the entire world. The declaration was also sent to foreign courts in the hopes of securing international support for the American cause.
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15. The King’s Reaction
King George III did not immediately respond to the Declaration of Independence. In his subsequent pronouncements, he did not directly address the Declaration but declared the American colonies to be in open rebellion. The British government continued to reject the claims of the Declaration rather than engage with its arguments.
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16. The Signers’ Demographics
The signers of the Declaration of Independence were a diverse group ranging in age from 26 (Edward Rutledge) to 70 (Benjamin Franklin). They were lawyers, merchants, physicians, and planters. Many were also leaders in their own colonies who had been educated in renowned colleges and universities.
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17. The Drafting Committee
The Committee of Five, appointed to draft the Declaration, included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson was chosen to compose the original draft, which was then edited by the Committee. This group was tasked with presenting the case for independence in a powerful and persuasive manner.
Learn More: National Archives
18. The Declaration’s Structure
The Declaration of Independence consists of a preamble, a list of grievances against King George III, a statement of the colonies’ attempts to appeal for redress, and a conclusion. The grievances are a detailed list of tyrannical acts committed by the British Crown, intended to justify the colonies’ break from British rule. The conclusion declares the colonies to be free and independent states with the full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things that independent states may of right do.
Learn More: National Archives
19. The Declaration’s Impact on Slavery
While the Declaration proclaimed “all men are created equal,” slavery was still legal and practiced in the colonies, including by some of the signers themselves. The inconsistency between the Declaration’s principles and the reality of slavery in America would eventually lead to significant conflict and the Civil War. The ideals of the Declaration were later used to argue for the abolition of slavery.
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20. The Declaration’s First Printing
The first printed versions of the Declaration of Independence were known as broadsides. John Dunlap in Philadelphia printed copies on the night of July 4, 1776, and these “Dunlap Broadsides,” as they came to be known, were dispatched to key figures and places throughout the colonies. It is not known how many copies Dunlap printed, but many historians estimate that 200 copies were made.
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21. The Famous Conclusion
The final sentence of the Declaration of Independence is a resolute statement of unity and determination: “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.” This powerful conclusion underscores the signers’ commitment to the cause of independence.
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22. The Declaration and the Liberty Bell
There is a traditional story that the Liberty Bell was rung on July 8, 1776, to mark the first public reading of the Declaration. However, historians now doubt this story, as the steeple housing the bell was in poor condition at the time and unlikely to have been used. Nonetheless, the Liberty Bell has since become a symbol of American independence.
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23. Benjamin Franklin’s Perspective
Benjamin Franklin, one of the signers and a member of the Committee of Five, is famously quoted as saying, “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” This quote, while it may not have been said during the signing, represents the unity of the signers and the risk that they were taking in rebelling against the Brits.
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24. The Declaration’s Editing Process
Thomas Jefferson’s original draft of the Declaration included a passage that condemned slavery, which was removed during the editing process. This was done to unify the thirteen colonies, including those that were slave-holding. The issue of slavery was thus left unresolved in the final document.
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25. The Declaration’s Copy in the National Archives
The engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence that is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. is known as the Matlack Declaration. It was penned by Timothy Matlack, an assistant to the Secretary of Congress. This is the document that was officially signed by the members of Congress.
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26. The Syng Inkstand
The Syng Inkstand is the silver inkstand used to sign the Declaration and later the Constitution. It was created by Philip Syng, a prominent silversmith in Philadelphia. This inkstand is now on display at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.
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27. The Declaration and the American Revolution
The adoption of the Declaration of Independence did not mark the beginning of the American Revolution; the war had begun more than a year earlier with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. However, the Declaration marked the point of no return and the commitment to independence rather than reconciliation with Britain.
Learn More: Britannica
28. Last Living Signer
Charles Carroll of Carrollton from Maryland was the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence. He died in 1832 at the age of 95. Carroll was also the only Catholic signer of the Declaration.
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29. Longevity of the Signers
Several signers of the Declaration lived into their 80s and 90s, which was notable given the life expectancy of the time. Their longevity has been attributed to various factors, including their relative wealth and access to better living conditions and healthcare.
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30. Hidden Messages and Handprints
No hidden messages have been found on the original Declaration of Independence. This is contrary to popular myths, often popularized by movies and conspiracy theories. The document has been thoroughly examined and preserved.
Learn More: National Constitution Center
31. The Declaration’s Original Purpose
The Declaration’s original purpose was to announce and justify the decision to declare independence from Britain. It was not intended as a foundational document for the new nation. That role would be filled by the U.S. Constitution, written more than a decade later.
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32. Preservation of the Declaration
The Declaration of Independence has undergone several preservation efforts since its creation. The document is now encased in a titanium and aluminum frame, filled with inert argon gas, and protected with UV-filtering glass. This is to prevent further deterioration of the parchment.
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33. The Signers’ Fate
Despite the risk of being tried for treason, no signer was killed directly due to his role in the Declaration. However, some suffered hardships such as imprisonment, the loss of property, or the death of family members. The British considered them traitors, and they were often targeted during the war.
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34. The Signers Were Not Patriots at the Outset
Many of the signers were not initially revolutionaries or patriots seeking independence. Some were reluctant revolutionaries, like Thomas Stone, who only gradually came to favor independence as relations with Britain deteriorated. The signing was the culmination of a shift in thinking among the colonial leaders.
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35. Annual July Fourth Deaths of Presidents
Two signers of the Declaration who later became presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. James Monroe, another Founding Father though not a signer of the Declaration, also died on July 4, five years later in 1831.
Learn More: Constitution Center
36. The Declaration’s Storage During World War II
During World War II, the Declaration, along with the Constitution, was moved to Fort Knox for safekeeping. The documents were transported under secret service protection because of fears of an attack on Washington, D.C. They were returned to the Library of Congress in 1944.
Learn More: National Archives
37. Printing of the Declaration
Mary Katharine Goddard, a Baltimore printer, was the first to print the Declaration with the names of the signers. This made the signers’ commitment to independence known to the world. Goddard is one of the few women historically associated with the document.
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38. The Declaration’s Role in Women’s Rights
The Declaration of Independence was used by women’s rights advocates as a foundation for their arguments. Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s “Declaration of Sentiments,” presented at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, was modeled after the Declaration, asserting the equality of women.
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39. The Signers’ Religious Affiliations
The signers of the Declaration came from a variety of religious backgrounds, reflecting the religious diversity of the American colonies. Among them were Deists, Protestants, and a Roman Catholic. This diversity of belief contributed to the future religious freedoms established in the Constitution.
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40. The Declaration and Native Americans
The Declaration refers to Native Americans as “merciless Indian Savages,” reflecting the conflicts between colonial settlers and Indigenous peoples. This language indicates the complex and often hostile relationships that existed at the time. It is a point of contention and discussion among historians and modern readers.
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41. The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress, which adopted the Declaration of Independence, acted as the de facto national government of the United States from 1775 to 1781. It managed the colonial war effort, moved toward independence, and laid the groundwork for the country’s future governance. The Declaration was one of its most significant actions.
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