Eleanor Finch
The United States Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress represented the Thirteen Colonies, 12 of which voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Declaration proclaimed the Thirteen Colonies as free and independent States, no longer colonies of the Kingdom of Great Britain and, thus, no longer a part of the British Empire. The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This was the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 2nd August 1776 (disputed) |
| Location | Pennsylvania State House, Philadelphia |
| Number of signers | 56 |
| Number of colonies voting in favour | 12 |
| Colony that abstained | New York |
| Date of first public reading | 8th July 1776 |
| Locations of first public reading | Trenton, New Jersey; Easton, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia |
| Date of first newspaper publication | 6th July 1776 |
| Newspaper that first published | The Pennsylvania Evening Post |
| Date of signing of the Constitution | 17th September 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776
- The document was signed at the Pennsylvania State House
- The Declaration of Independence was a list of grievances against the King of England
- The document was signed by 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress
- The Declaration of Independence was widely translated and transmitted
The Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776
The United States Declaration of Independence, signed on August 2, 1776, was a pivotal moment in the nation's history, cementing its separation from British rule and establishing the foundation for democratic ideals. The signing took place at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. This very hall would also witness the signing of the United States Constitution over a decade later in 1787, marking another significant milestone in the country's governance.
The Declaration of Independence was crafted as a statement of shared sentiments among supporters of the American Revolution. It listed grievances against the King of England and asserted the independence of the Thirteen Colonies, proclaiming them as "free and independent states." The document's influence extended beyond the borders of the newly formed nation, inspiring democratic ideals worldwide.
The date of signing has been a subject of debate, with some sources, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, indicating it was signed on July 4, 1776, the same day it was adopted. However, most historians support the August 2 date, nearly a month after its adoption. The signed copy, preserved at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., is generally accepted as the official document.
The Declaration of Independence holds a special place in the hearts of Americans, and its impact on human rights and global politics cannot be overstated. Abraham Lincoln, for instance, considered it the moral standard for the United States. The document has also been the subject of controversy, with British Tories criticising the signers for not extending the principles of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" to African Americans.
The United States Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, built upon the foundation laid by the Declaration of Independence. It was a charter of government that would be ratified by the states, becoming the supreme law of the land. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which was conducted under an oath of secrecy. The first public printing of the Constitution was published in a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, just two days after it was signed.
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The document was signed at the Pennsylvania State House
The Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, is a significant landmark in American history. It was here, in Philadelphia, that the United States Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776. The document proclaimed the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain, marking a pivotal moment in the American Revolution.
The Second Continental Congress, representing the Thirteen Colonies, convened at the Pennsylvania State House to finalise the Declaration. On July 4, 1776, 12 of the 13 colonies voted to approve the Declaration, with New York abstaining as they had not received instructions from Albany. The final draft of the Declaration was approved by the Continental Congress on the same day, and it was then sent to be printed and distributed.
The Pennsylvania State House served as a fitting venue for this historic event. The building had been constructed between 1732 and 1753 and served as the colonial legislature for Pennsylvania. It was also used as a meeting place for the First and Second Continental Congresses during the American Revolution. The hall witnessed passionate debates and the shaping of the young nation's future.
On August 2, 1776, 56 delegates gathered at the Pennsylvania State House to sign the Declaration. The signers' names were grouped by state, with John Hancock, as President of the Continental Congress, listed first. The signing of the Declaration was not without controversy, and some delegates may have even added their signatures after this date. Nonetheless, the document stands as a powerful statement of the colonies' determination to forge a new path as independent states.
The Pennsylvania State House continued to play a pivotal role in shaping the United States' future. Over a decade later, in 1787, it was in this very building that the United States Constitution was signed. This document, endorsed by delegates from 12 states, outlined the framework for the nation's federal government and the functioning of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Benjamin Franklin, in his last great speech, moved for the signing of the Constitution, and 39 delegates ultimately signed the document.
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The Declaration of Independence was a list of grievances against the King of England
The United States Declaration of Independence, signed on August 2, 1776, declared the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from the Kingdom of Great Britain. The Declaration was the culmination of a long list of grievances against the King of England, specifically King George III, and the British government.
The Second Continental Congress, representing the 13 colonies, voted to adopt the Declaration on July 4, 1776, with 12 of the colonies voting in favour and New York abstaining. The final draft of the Declaration was approved by the Continental Congress on the same day. The Declaration was then signed nearly a month later, with most historians concluding that it was signed on August 2.
The Declaration of Independence included 27 specific grievances against the King and the British government. These grievances centred around the abuse of power by King George III, his acts of war against the colonies, and the imposition of laws that the colonists viewed as illegitimate. One of the primary grievances was the king's refusal to assent to laws deemed necessary for the public good. For example, the king supported Catholicism and restricted expansion, offending the New England religionists and those seeking westward expansion.
The colonists also took issue with the king's establishment of new offices and the sending of officers to harass the people and "eat out their substance." This included the imposition of the Stamp Act in 1765, which placed officers in every port to collect revenues, and the Quartering Act in 1774, which allowed army officers to appropriate private property to quarter their troops. The colonists further accused the king of plundering their seas, ravaging their coasts, burning their towns, and destroying the lives of their people.
The Declaration of Independence was influenced by historical precedents such as the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights of 1689, which established the principle that the king should not interfere with the rights of Englishmen. It was also shaped by the works of political philosophers such as John Locke and de Vattel, whose ideas on independence and statehood resonated with the American revolutionaries.
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The document was signed by 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress
The United States Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress. These delegates represented the Thirteen Colonies, and 12 of these colonies voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The New York delegation abstained, as they had not received instructions from Albany to vote for independence.
The Declaration of Independence was a list of grievances against the King of England, intended to justify the separation of the 13 colonies from British rule. It proclaimed that the colonies were now "free and independent States", no longer colonies of Great Britain and no longer a part of the British Empire. The names of the signers are grouped by state, with the exception of John Hancock, as President of the Continental Congress. The states are arranged from south to north, with Button Gwinnett from Georgia signing first, and Matthew Thornton from New Hampshire signing last.
The signing of the Declaration of Independence occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The date of its signing has long been disputed, with most historians concluding that it was signed on August 2, nearly a month after its adoption, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed. The Second Continental Congress had adopted the Declaration on July 4, 1776, and the final draft of the Declaration was approved by the Continental Congress on the same day.
The Declaration of Independence was not legally binding, but it has proven to be an influential and globally impactful statement on human rights. It has been viewed as the moral standard to which the United States should strive and the foundation of its politics. The Declaration was also widely transmitted and translated, and it played an important role in the spread of democratic ideals around the world.
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The Declaration of Independence was widely translated and transmitted
The United States Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress represented the Thirteen Colonies, 12 of which voted to approve the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Declaration proclaimed that the Thirteen Colonies were now "free and independent States", no longer colonies of the Kingdom of Great Britain and no longer a part of the British Empire.
The Spanish-American authorities banned the circulation of the Declaration, but it was widely transmitted and translated by individuals such as Venezuelan Manuel García de Sena, Colombian Miguel de Pombo, Ecuadorian Vicente Rocafuerte, and New Englanders Richard Cleveland and William Shaler, who distributed the Declaration and the United States Constitution among Creoles in Chile and Indians in Mexico in 1821. The Declaration was also translated into German and published in Philadelphia by July 9, 1776. It was subsequently widely read and published throughout the Thirteen Colonies.
The Declaration of Independence was not legally binding, but it was powerful and influential. It has been described as a "rebuke and a stumbling block to tyranny and oppression" and has inspired people around the world to fight for freedom and equality. The document has been treasured by Americans and is now maintained under exacting archival conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution of Independence was signed on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The US Constitution of Independence is the oldest federal constitution in existence. It is a charter of government that came to be ratified by the states and continues to be the supreme law of the land.
The Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia.
The Declaration of Independence is a statement of sentiments widely shared by supporters of the American Revolution. It is not legally binding but is considered powerful and influential.
