Any imformation about the Declaration of Independence?

Question

I'm am recently interested in the Declaration and want to know some stuff about it. Can you help me. Thanks.

Answer 1

Here's a collection of my notes, "trivia" and things people often miss about the Declaration.

THE WRITING

* not considered THE important event or date at the time -- the July 2nd vote for Richard Henry Lee's resolution was the key (and that is the date John Adams expected to be celebrated); the Declaration was almost an afterthought, done in part to allow more time to line up support for the resolution

In one sense this document was not the declaration of independence itself, but the declaration of the REASONS/CAUSES to justify to the world what they had already voted to do, as its preamble specifically states. (This perfectly parallels the English Bill of Rights of 1689, to which it has other connections -- see below)

* it was almost an accident that Jefferson did the main writing. As Committee chair he would be expected to take a lead role, and it WAS considered important, even necessary that a VIRGINIAN should take the lead, to gain conservative Southern support (from delegates who had little respect for those from Massachusetts). BUT Richard Henry Lee had offered the resolution and would presumably have been the chair, except that his wife took ill and he had to leave. If Jefferson had NOT drafted it,most likely John Adams or perhaps Franklin (though far less likely) would have. (As it was, these two did provide a number of suggestions and edits... and may even have offered more instructions on the basic form and content BEFORE the draft was begun.)


THE FORM & CONTENT, EDITING

* Though Jefferson is responsible for most of the choices of words, phrasing, etc., most of the CONTENT is unoriginal - based first on well-established British forms (esp. the "English Bill of Rights of 1689" in which Parliament had listed James II's violations of rights, justifying their deposing him in favor of William and Mary, and various STATE declarations of independence that preceded the national one)
-see English Bill of Rights (1689) http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/england.htm

* Much of the content and basic form -- the argument about their "rights" and list of grievances against the King-- was laid out by the FIRST Continental Congress in October 1774, its "Declarations and Resolves". Give it a good read -- you will see not only echoes of the English Bill of Rights, but an interesting list of rights and the basis for them -- not just the Lockean stuff, but specific references to traditional Englishman's rights, and appeals to such things as the "compacts" created by the early Puritan settlers (e.g., Mayflower Compact).
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/resolves.htm

In short, these documents show that while SOME of the political philosophy was rooted in Locke (though he HIMSELF drew from English political events and traditions), much was NOT from his work

* the three-fold list of "inalienable rights" likewise was not Jefferson's idea. It was based on a common formula, going back esp. to John Locke; "the pursuit of happiness" was an alternative for the more common"property", but even this expression is found in Locke, et.al. and esp. in the "Virginia Declaration of Rights" penned by George Mason just before the Declaration, which reads as follows:
"That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety."
http://odur.let.rug.nl/%7Eusa/D/1776-1800/independence/virdor.htm

* most of the strongest religious references in the Declaration were added by other committee members or by Congress as a whole. Ironically, the ONE use of "Christian" was in Jefferson's charge concerning the slave trade - the most significant section to be STRUCK from the Declaration by Congress (at the insistence of South Carolina and Georgia)

* contrary to the mythology, Jefferson did not passively accept the edits by Congress, but was upset with many of them (though he typically did not express his anger in public)


THE VOTE(RS) - note that the vote was actually for the RESOLUTION (on July 2nd)

* the decision was made that the vote for independence MUST be unanimous. This meant that it needed majority support from each delegation, NOT the vote of every single delegate In fact, the key state of Pennsylvania was only able to gain a majority when two members opposed (more to the TIMING than anything else, thinking it a bit premature) agreed to abstain; and Caesar Rodney of Delaware was summoned to make a last-minute ride to break the 1-1 tie in that state's vote. (Note: generally, even those who VOTED against the resolution joined in SIGNING the Declaration.)

* by the 4th of July only TWELVE of the colonies had voted for it; New York abstained because of restrictions in instructions they were sent... though later in July they were able to vote for it (see on John Jay below)


PRINTING, SIGNING, SIGNERS

* the original document was signed on July 4th by TWO people - Hancock, as President of Congress, in behalf of all, and Charles Thomson, the Secretary (his post through the entire period of the Second Continental Congress), officially attesting Hancock's signature; the signing by others could only begin after a formal copy was 'engrossed' by the printer and returned to Congress on August 2nd (Most signed on that day, some not there did so later in the month, a few later in the year...)
http://www.lewismicropublishing.com/DeclarationIndependence/

* the printer who engrossed the Declaration, Thomas Matlack, HAD been a member of the Society of Friends, but this group remained pacifist during the War; Matlack was one of an independent group of "Fighting Quakers" who split off at the beginning of the Revolution
http://www.virtualology.com/declarationofindependence/TimothyMatlack.com/

* there is some confusion about the LAST signature (even whose it was!) of the 56 signers. Some say it was Thomas McKean, because his name does not appear on the official version released in January 1777, but it's possible that was a printer's error, and McKean claimed to have signed it much earlier; in that case Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire would be the last to have signed it, in November 1776
http://research.history.org/pf/signers/signatures.cfm
http://research.history.org/pf/signers/bio_mckean.cfm
http://research.history.org/pf/signers/index.cfm

* the arrangement of the signatures - Hancock's name, as President was centered at the top; then, following a custom at the time, the rest were ordered by geography, North to South, one delegation at a time (New Hampshire delegates signed first, at the top right, Georgia last). BUT (compare previous point) Matthew Thornton did not have enough room to add his name under New Hampshire, so signed at the bottom
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/documents/declaration/signers.html

* John Jay of New York - some mistakenly claim he avoided coming to Congress that year because he did not favor independence.. BUT in fact he had more vital work to do in New York's provincial congress at that time... INCLUDING drafting the resolution that authorized New York's delegates to the Continental Congress to finally vote for the Declaration later in July, and so to sign it
http://www.nndb.com/people/374/000049227/

* the most famous non-signer - John Dickinson of Pennsylvania- was, at the very same time carrying out Congress's charge to draft "Articles of Confederation"... and this original form was much stronger and more centralized than the final form adopted in 1777

* it is usually stated that ALL the members kept the pledge (on their 'lives, fortunes and sacred honor'), and there are some impressive stories about how many did so. But there is some question about Richard Stockton of New Jersey, captured by the British later in the year and pressured to renounce the Revolution. It is unclear and debated whether he effectively did so.
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(dg006427))
http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1975/4/1975_4_22.shtml
biographies of the signers - http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/index.htm

* for more about the later preservation of the Declaration, see
http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_history.html


LATER EVENTS

* Trumbull's painting of the presentation of the Declaration -- there are some debates about what exactly Trumbull was presenting, and how accurate it was (if he is just showing the Committee of Five presenting the document, and NOT the signing of it by all, no problem). One interesting tidbit... some claim that Jefferson is stepping on Adams's toes in the picture. I'm not so sure of that, but in light of the fact that Adams had worked hard for a year to get support and bring it all to a vote, and Jefferson ended up with all the credit for writing the document (well-written but not original, and done in a matter of days), I'm not sure I'd blame him!
see the picture: http://www.archives.gov/research/american-revolution/pictures/images/revolutionary-war-022.jpg
(compare http://experts.about.com/q/General-History-674/John-Trumball-Declaration-Independance.htm

* three Presidents died on the date of the celebration of this document - the first two happened to be the critical members of the Committee (Jefferson and Adams) and died on the same day, the 50th anniversary; Monroe, the last member of that generation to serve as President, died five years later [In addition, Madison, who died shortly before the 4th, might well have hung on till that date had he accepted medicine offered him for that purpose. That would have made fourof the founding generation in a row!]

* Lincoln (with others) argued that this document was THE key enunciation of , the (moral) foundation for the country (with the Constitution as an attempt to set up a framework of government to realize these principles as fully as possible under the circumstances); Lincoln's best-known statement of this, in the Gettysburg Address was conveniently 'set up' in that the 4th of July (1863) was the date on which Lee's army left Gettysburg, defeated (not to mention that Grant's critical victory at Vicksburg was accomplished on the same day); another related happenstance -- the Theodore Parker sermon that probably suggested Lincoln's closing line ("government of the people, by the people, for the people") was delivered five years before on July 4

Paula Maier, *American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence*
- declaration form and study of the list of grievances
- influences, sources
- subsequent history (how the document gains importance, is reapplied to slavery debate, etc)

EXTRA:
* three of our early Presidents, including perhaps the two most critical in there BEING a Declaration, died on the fourth of July -- Adams and Jefferson in 1826, the 50th anniversary, and Monroe, five years later

* ALSO (often missed), Madison who died the week before the 60th anniversary (June 28, 1836). probably could have held out till the anniversary if he had chosen to, but he refused the help

Answer 2

Well, there are some interesting links to it. I am going to include one to the National Archives on the history of the document. I read the essay called "The Declaration of Independence: A History" last night and it's very good. You'll be surprised at how many times this document has been moved around. And, since it also concerns the preservation of the document, you might never put scotch tape on a book again after reading this.

Answer 3

There's a link at New Free Books that will help. Eye witness account on various important events... and this is surely one of them. Go to the Leap Over Web Clutter section... pick the second history link.

Answer 4

something like this. We, the individuals of the Republic of Australia, declare our independence from our oppressors. Our first act is to execute the former chief of our oppressors, John Howard of Kirribilli. Public execution in Martin place. All welcome.

Answer 5

Sorry, I'm Canadian.
My dollar is higher than yours.=P
Why don't you google it?
I'm sure you'll find some government websites.
Or how about books?
Go to the library!

Goodluck!=)

Answer 6

Do you know how to use "Google"?... then you can look it up easier than I can.