Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence. In the Spring of 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee of five men to draft a declaration which presented the colonies' case for independence.

This famous document starts, "When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

On July 4, 1776, church bells rang out the news that the Declaration of Independence had been approved and adopted by the Continental Congress.

Alphabetical Listing

ADAMS, John Massachusetts ADAMS, Samuel Massachusetts BARTLETT, Josiah New Hampshire BRAXTON, Carter Virginia CARROLL, Charles Maryland CHASE, Samuel Maryland CLARK, Abraham New Jersey CLYMER,George Pennsylvania ELLERY, William Rhode Island FLOYD, William New York FRANKLIN, Benjamin Pennsylvania GERRY, Elbridge Massachusetts GWINNETT, Button Georgia HALL, Lyman Georgia HANKCOCK, John Massachusetts HARRISON, Benjamin Virginia HART, John New Jersey HEWES, Joseph North Carolina HEYWARD, Thomas, Jr. South Carolina

HOOPER, William North Carolina HOPKINS, Stephen Rhode Island HOPKINSON, Fancis New Jersey HUNTINGON, Samuel Connecticut JEFFERSON, Thomas Virginia LEE, Francis Lightfoot Virginia LEE, Richard Henry Virginia LEWIS, Francis New York LIVINGSTON, Phillip New York LYNCH, Thomas, Jr. South Carolina MCKEAN, Thomas Delaware MIDDLETON, Arthur South Carolina MORRIS, Lewis New York MORRIS, Robert Pennsylvania MORTON, John Pennsylvania NELSON, Thomas, Jr. Virginia PACA, William Maryland PAINE, Robert Treat Massachusetts PENN, John North Carolina

READ, George Delaware RODNEY, Casear Delaware ROSS, George Pennsylvania RUSH, Benjamin Pennsylvania RUTLKEDGE, Edward South Carolina SHERMAN, Roger Connecticut SMITH, James Pennsylvania STOCKTON, Richard New Jersey STONE, Thomas Maryland TAYLOR, George Pennsylvania THORNTON, Matthew New Hampshire WALTON, George Georgia WHIPPLE, William New Hampshire WILLIAMS, William Connecticut WILSON, James Pennsylvania WITHERSPOON, John New Jersey WOLCOTT, Oliver Connecticut WYTHE, George Virginia