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 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, on the other hand, was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May to September 1787.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 2nd August 1776 (disputed) |
| Location | Pennsylvania State House, Philadelphia |
| Number of signers | 56 |
| Type of government | Democratic |
| Date of adoption | 4th July 1776 |
| Date of printing | 19th September 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
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 country's history, marking its official break from British rule and the assertion of its sovereignty. The signing took place at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, and represented the culmination of the American Revolution.
The Declaration of Independence was crafted by Thomas Jefferson and expressed the sentiments widely shared by supporters of the revolution. It was a statement of grievances against the King of England and an assertion of the rights and freedoms that the Thirteen Colonies sought to secure. The document proclaimed the colonies' independence from Great Britain, establishing them as "free and independent states."
While the date of signing has been a subject of debate, with some sources indicating that a group of delegates signed on July 4, 1776, most historians agree that the majority of delegates signed on August 2. This conclusion is supported by research showing that many signers were not present in Congress on July 4 and that some may have added their signatures even after August 2. The signed copy, however, bears the date of July 4, adding to the confusion.
The Declaration of Independence holds a significant place in the hearts of Americans and has influenced human rights globally. It is considered the foundation of American political and ideological identity, outlining the principles upon which the US government was established. The document has been preserved and is now maintained under meticulous archival conditions to ensure its longevity.
The Constitution, signed in 1787, built upon the Declaration of Independence, establishing the governance of the newly independent nation and outlining the rights of its citizens. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, and was ratified by the states, becoming the supreme law of the land. Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed in the same location, now commemorated by the National Constitution Center.
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The signing took place at the Pennsylvania State House
The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence took place at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The building was later renamed, and it is here that the 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress, representing the Thirteen Colonies, gathered to sign the document.
The Declaration of Independence was signed primarily on August 2, 1776, though the exact date has long been a subject of debate. The Second Continental Congress had adopted the Declaration a month earlier, on July 4, 1776, with 12 of the 13 colonies voting in favour and New York abstaining, as they had not yet received instructions from Albany to vote for independence.
Despite Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams all stating that the Declaration was signed by Congress on July 4, 1776, the day it was adopted, most historians now agree that the signing took place on August 2. This is supported by subsequent research, which has shown that some delegates were not present in Congress on July 4, and that some may have added their signatures even after August 2. The signed copy of the Declaration is now on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The Pennsylvania State House was also the site of the signing of the United States Constitution in 1787. The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which was conducted under an oath of secrecy. The original signed, handwritten Constitution is also held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
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56 delegates signed the document
The United States Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress, representing the Thirteen Colonies. The signing occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. 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 date of signing has been a subject of debate, with some sources indicating that it was signed on July 4, 1776, the same day it was adopted. However, most historians, including legal historian Wilfred Ritz, argue that the engrossed copy was signed on August 2, and that the phrase "signed by every member of Congress" in the July 19 resolution referred to delegates who had not signed on July 4.
The 56 signers' names are grouped by state, with the exception of John Hancock, as President of the Continental Congress. The states are arranged geographically from south to north, with Button Gwinnett from Georgia signing first and Matthew Thornton from New Hampshire signing last.
The Declaration of Independence was a list of grievances against the King of England, intended to justify the separation of the Thirteen Colonies from British rule. It was not legally binding but has served as a powerful statement of the principles on which the American government and identity are based. The document has been preserved and is now on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
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The original copy is now on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C
The United States Declaration of Independence, which occurred on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House, proclaimed that the Thirteen Colonies were now "free and independent states", no longer under the rule of the Kingdom of Great Britain. The final draft of the Declaration was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, with 12 of the 13 colonies voting in favour. The date of its signing has long been disputed, with some believing it to be July 4, the day of its adoption. However, most historians agree on the August date, as many of the signers were not present in Congress on July 4.
The original copy of the Declaration of Independence has been preserved and is now on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The document was moved to the National Archives in 1952, along with other important papers of the Continental Congress and the US Constitution, collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom. The Charters of Freedom are housed in a specially designed rotunda within the National Archives, where they are protected and preserved. The rotunda features two large murals by artist Barry Faulkner, commissioned by President Herbert Hoover, depicting fictional scenes of the "presentations" of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The National Archives building was designed with the intention of creating a monumental exhibit space for the nation's most important founding documents. The original copy of the Declaration of Independence is now safely enshrined in this exhibit space, where it can be viewed by the public. The document has had a significant impact on human rights and has been globally influential.
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The Declaration was influenced by de Vattel's The Law of Nations
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, thus, no longer a part of the British Empire.
The Declaration of Independence was influenced by several sources, including Thomas Jefferson's own draft of the preamble of the Constitution of Virginia, and George Mason's draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. However, historian David Armitage argues that the Declaration was strongly influenced by Emerich de Vattel's "The Law of Nations: Or, Principles of the Law of Nature Applied to the Conduct and Affairs of Nations and Sovereigns".
"The Law of Nations" was a highly influential treatise on international law, published in 1758. De Vattel's work profoundly influenced the development of international law, and he is considered a major authority on the subject. The book was sent to Benjamin Franklin by Swiss editor Charles W.F. Dumas in 1775, who then deposited one copy in the Library Company of Philadelphia, which he founded. Franklin acknowledged the importance of the book, stating that it was continually in the hands of the members of our Congress.
In his work, de Vattel elucidated the "Golden Rule of Sovereigns", stating that "one cannot complain when he is treated as he treats others". He also proposed a differing approach to the Rule of 1756, which had been established by the British to prevent trade by neutral vessels between colonies and their mother countries. De Vattel's approach allowed for only some limited restrictions on trade, requiring that states trade with both belligerents to maintain their neutral status, while rejecting any obligation for neutral states to cease trade. This concept of neutrality also extended to the innocent passage of troops through neutral territory, which de Vattel saw as an obligation for nations at peace with each other.
De Vattel's work was itself influenced by Christian Wolff's "Jus Gentium Methodo Scientifica Pertractum" (The Law of Nations According to the Scientific Method), which de Vattel translated from Latin and added his own thoughts to. De Vattel's work was also influenced by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and Hugo Grotius.
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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.
56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress signed the US Constitution of Independence. They represented the Thirteen Colonies, 12 of which voted to approve the declaration.
