First, here is the list of the 56 official signers of the Declaration, with links to info about each
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence#Signers_of_the_Declaration
As for when and where . . . the signing took place in stages
1) On July 4, after the document wast approved by Congress initial copies were quickly printed and released, with the signature ONLY of John Hancock of Massacusetts, in his role as President of Congress. Also at that time the Secretary of Congress, Charles Thompson, signed in attestation.
http://www.billpetro.com/HolidayHistory/hol/4th.html
http://www.lewismicropublishing.com/DeclarationIndependence/
http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/tdih.jsp?category=americanrevolution&month=10272960&day=10272967
2) The document was then sent to the printer's. After the official form was printed, the delegates began to sign it. Most of this took place on August 2. By August 6, 50 of the 56 had signed it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence#Distribution_and_copies
These all took place in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House, which later became known as "Independence Hall"
A few others who were not present on August 2 signed the document later, most if not all by November of that year and again in Philadelphia.
WHO DID and DID *NOT* SIGN -
Note that the various colonies --then states-- kept changing their delegations. This means that SOME who signed the document in August or later were NOT there when the votes for independence and for the document took place on July 2 and 4.
There is only ONE delegate who clearly REFUSED to sign the document. This was John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, who refused to even vote on the matter, and ended up leaving Congress. He did, however, continue to serve his nation in many ways, later writing forcefully in support of the Constitution. He had, in fact, written the first draft of the Articles of Confederation for the new country he was not in favor of establishing! )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dickinson_%28delegate%29#Continental_Congress
http://www.bartleby.com/65/di/DicknsoJoh.html
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There is some question about who was the LAST to sign the Declaration. Many believe it was Thomas McKean. If so, re appears to have done so a bit after the official printing of the document on January 18, 1777, perhaps even later that month. (If this is accurate, there is a slight possiblity that McKean signed it somewhere other than Philadelphia, during one of the times when Congress had to flee the city.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_McKean#Continental_Congress_and_Declaration_of_Independence
http://experts.about.com/e/t/th/Thomas_McKean.htm
http://research.history.org/pf/signers/signatures.cfm
Oddly though McKean himself claims to have signed it shortly after most of the other delegates did in August 1776
http://research.history.org/pf/signers/bio_mckean.cfm
If his story is true and there was a printing error, the last signature would be that of Matthew Thornton (of New Hamshire) in November 1776.
http://research.history.org/pf/signers/index.cfm
See also:
http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_history.html
One other clarification about the ORDER of signing. The order of signatures on the OFFICIAL document does NOT tell you exactly WHEN each signed it. That's because the signers did not just add their signature after all the rest. Rather, the signatures were organized by STATES, and the states themselves were listed in geographical order.
"At that time, a general practice was to sign below text on the right and by geographic location. Using this protocol, signatures of the New Hampshire delegates began the list. Delegates from Georgia, the southernmost state, ended the list."
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/documents/declaration/signers.html
Compare:
http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/tdih.jsp?category=americanrevolution&month=10272960&day=10272967
http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/continenta_ig.html
2007-02-16 01:41:20
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answer #1
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answered by bruhaha 7
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the Declaration of independence was signed onJuly 4, 1776
You can find a complete list of the 56 signers at ushistory.org/declaration
2007-02-14 11:53:02
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answer #2
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answered by Dave aka Spider Monkey 7
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The document was signed in Philadelphia, PA (though a long-standing joke would tell you that it was signed at the bottom). All of the various signatories are listed at the site below. There are also several resources on that site that should help your sister find background information on all of them and give her a little perspective on the history of the time... should she want it.
2007-02-14 09:57:16
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answer #3
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answered by Gwenhwyvar 2
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Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry, Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery, Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott,
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris,
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross, Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean, Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton, William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton.
Not sure where it was first signed, but I think it was in New Hampshire.
2007-02-14 09:54:30
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Something like this. We, the people of the Republic of Australia, declare our independence from our oppressors. Our first act is to execute the former leader of our oppressors, John Howard of Kirribilli. Public execution in Martin Place. All welcome.
2016-03-29 06:40:09
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answer #5
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answered by Lynne 4
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It was sighed in Philadelphia.But it wasn't sighed by all of them on the fourth of July Only John Hancock sighed it on the fourth.The rest sighed it later on different days.
2007-02-14 10:35:37
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answer #6
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answered by Hector 4
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Check out wikopedia.com
2007-02-14 09:50:58
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answer #7
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answered by freeschoolhelp 1
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Everybody and his brother.
At the bottom.
Actually, any encyclopedia would give you that information faster than you can get it here.
2007-02-14 09:56:16
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answer #8
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answered by JelliclePat 4
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go here it will answer any question you have
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/
2007-02-14 09:50:11
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answer #9
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answered by ♫Rock'n'Rob♫ 6
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Google it.
2007-02-14 09:49:43
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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