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The Declaration’s association with Independence Day came from a lapse of memory So that famous painting showing the signing of the Declaration on July 4, 1776, is a bit of an exaggeration.ħ. The names of the signers were released publicly in early 1777. Most of the members of the Continental Congress signed a version of the Declaration in early August 1776 in Philadelphia. OK – when was the Declaration actually signed? That version of the Declaration was eventually acquired by TV producer Norman Lear for $8.1 million.Ħ.
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It was tucked behind an old picture in a frame and it cost the buyer $4. That’s what happened in 1989 in Adamstown, Pa. So what if I stumble upon a lost version of the Dunlap Broadside at a flea market? About 200 copies of the Dunlap Broadside were printed, with John Hancock’s name printed at the bottom. Once the Congress approved the actual Declaration of Independence document on July 4, it ordered that it be sent to a printer named John Dunlap. But they didn’t sign the Declaration on July 4th! The others were George Read, Roger Sherman, Robert Morris, George Clymer and James Wilson.Ĥ. Six people signed the Declaration and also the Constitutionįranklin was among a handful of people who signed both historical documents. Livingston, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson) and it took two days for the Congress to agree on the edits.ģ. It had been proposed in draft form by the Committee of Five (John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert R. July 4 is when the Declaration was adoptedĪfter voting on independence, the Continental Congress needed to finalize a document explaining the move to the public.
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John Adams thought July 2 would be marked as a national holiday for generations to come.Ģ. Officially, the Continental Congress declared its freedom from Britain on July 2, 1776, when it approved a resolution and delegates from New York were permitted to make it a unanimous vote. So how much do you know about this famous document? July 4th marks the annual holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
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