History of the Men Behind the Declaration of Independence

The seeds of independence for the thirteen American colonies were sown eleven years before July 4th 1776. The stamp act, the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, Battle of Bunker Hill, “The ‘shot heard around the world” on Lexington Green and Patrick Henry’s speech “Give me liberty or give me death” had all occurred before July 4th1776.

In June 1776 fifty six delegates from the thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia to debate the question of independence from the mother country Great Britain. On June 7th Richard Henry Lee of Virginia offered a resolution seconded by John Adams "that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states." Four days later, in anticipation of a vote for independence, the delegates appointed five men; John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson to write a declaration “That made it clear to all people why this break from their sovereign King George III was both necessary and inevitable. “

After the selection of the committee Thomas Jefferson proposed to John Adams that he should make the draft but Adams said no that Jefferson should write the draft because; 1. “You are a Virginian and a Virginian should be at the head of this business” 2. I am obnoxious, suspected and unpopular. 3. You write 10 times better than I do. “

For the next 17 days Thomas Jefferson leaned over his small mahogany traveling desk that his landlord Benjamin Randolph had made for him the year before. He had no books before him as he wrote but his encyclopedic mind recalled much that he had read over the years prior to this moment in time. He had read John Locke’s second treatise of government many times. Locke wrote “No one ought to harm another in his life, liberty or possessions.” Tom amended Locke’s language to “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

On June 28th Jefferson’s draft was submitted to congress. Five days later, July 2nd1776, congress adopted Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for Independence which some believe should be celebrated as our day of Independence.

The next day John Adams wrote Abigail his wife “Yesterday, the greatest question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and greater perhaps, never was nor ever will be decided among men.... The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.” The momentous epoch that so excited Adams would be reduced to an historical footnote by the event that was to follow two days later.

On July 3rd the congress took on the job of editing Jefferson’s draft. It was an extremely hot and muggy day in Philadelphia. Because of the many spectators that were peering into the windows trying to see and hear the debate surrounding this epic moment in our countries history John Hancock ordered the windows to be closed and the drapes drawn. This made it even more unbearable for the delegates dressed in their woolen coats and powdered wigs.

During the debate Thomas Jefferson sat at his desk very quietly and did not rise to defend his language as the delegates began to edit and rip apart his beloved document. But John Adams, like Zeus the thunder god, would leap up and pound his hickory cane on the floor for emphasis loudly defending each line and word of Thomas Jefferson language. As John Adams spoke a tremendous thunderstorm broke outside and he had to raise his voice even further to be heard over the peals of thunder. It was so dark that candles had to be brought into the room so the delegates could read their copies of the declaration. The debate went on for nine hours.

On the evening of July 4th the debate was concluded and the draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to John Hancock for signing. John Hancock signed boldly saying,”There John Bull may read my name without his spectacles and may now double his reward of 500 pounds on my head. That is my defiance.” John Hancock then urged all the delegates to hang together.” Ben Franklin replied “yes we must indeed all hang together or else we most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

John Hancock was the only one to sign the draft of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776. It was not until August 2nd 1776 when the, ‘Fair Copy’, was ready that the rest of the 56 delegates traveled to Philadelphia to sign their names.

On July 6th 1776 George Washington read the Declaration of Independence to his troops who were engaged with the British in New York. It was a queasy time for Washington because he did not know how his troops would greet a formal Declaration of Independence from the mother country England. After reading the draft there was an uneasy silence from the troops, then to Washington’s relief they broke into loud and ringing ‘huzza’s for independence. They now knew they were fighting for America, their country, and the Declaration of Independence would be their ship of Independence that they could ride through some very turbulent seas for the next six years.

Fifty six men met in Philadelphia in June 1776 determined that the only logical course of action by which they could throw off the yoke of tyranny was to declare the independence and sovereignty of the individual colonies and join together in a firm league of friendship with each other. As they signed the declaration they knew that King George the third would view their action as treasonous and that they would be marked as traitors. The fate of these fifty six men has been a little known story in American history:

- Five of the signers were captured by the British and tortured before they died.

- Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

- Two lost their sons in the revolutionary war.

- Nine of the fifty six died from wounds or the hardship of the revolutionary war.

- Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags.

- Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family constantly. He served without pay, his family was kept in hiding his possessions were taken from him and poverty was his reward.

- At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over his home. Nelson quietly urged Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

- Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The British jailed his wife and she died within a few months.

- John Hart of New Jersey was driven from his dying wife’s bedside. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and grist mill was laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in the forest and caves returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart.

- Thomas Jefferson died on July 4th 1826 the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. His last words were; “Is it July 4th yet?”

- John Adams also died on July 4th 1826, two hours after Jefferson. His last words were; “Jefferson still survives.”

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed rabble rousing ruffians. They were soft spoken men of means and education. They had security but they valued liberty more. Standing tall and unwavering they pledged: “For the support of this declaration, with the firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, fortunes, and our sacred honor.”

Since July 4th 1776 we have enjoyed our lives, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We need to be grateful and remember the courage and sacrifice of these fifty six men who signed their names with the knowledge that they were very likely signing their own death warrant.

Several lost their lives, many lost their fortunes but none lost their sacred honor.