How much do you really know about Independence Day?
By John R. Goodman BS RRT
Most Americans are well versed in their knowledge of the Revolutionary war, our struggle
for independence from Great Britain, and the significance of the 4th of July. With today’s
ability to “Google” just about anything, it is easier than ever to delve into some of the more
esoteric or unknown aspects of our founding fathers. It is quite true that the 56 original
signers of the Declaration of Independence were all men. The closest the document ever
got to a women’s touch was in the form of a letter written by Abigail Adams to her
husband John Adams. Abigail asked him “In the new code of laws which I suppose it will
be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies.” Even though John
Adams loved his wife very much, and was constantly seeking her advice, he answered,”
As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh…we know better than to repeal
our masculine systems.”
John Adams
Abigail Adams
Abigail was a strong and determined woman, and she tried at least one more time by
writing “I cannot say that I think you very generous to the Ladies, for whilst you are
proclaiming peace and good will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon
retaining an absolute power over the wives.” It wasn’t until July of 1848 that the first
Woman’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Organized by Elizabeth
Cady Stanton, she patterned her “Declaration of Sentiments” on the Declaration of
Independence. Their motto…”All men and women created equal.” It wouldn’t be until
1917 that Jeannette Rankin became the first women ever elected to the Congress. She was
a republican from Montana. Heck, it took another 3 years before women won the right to
vote by passage of the 19th amendment!
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
“All men and women created equal”
Jeanette Rankin
First woman elected to Congress
So let’s take a look a few of the lesser known facts related to the original 56 signers of the
Declaration of Independence. In terms of the original 13 colonies and using estimates of
population in mid 1770’s, Delaware with a pop. of 45,000 sent 3 signers, Pennsylvania
with a pop. of 327,000 sent 8 signers, Massachussetts with a pop. of 268,000 sent 5
signers, New Hampshire with a pop. of 87,000 sent 3 signers, Rhode Island with a pop. of
53,000 sent 2 signers, New York with a pop. of 210,000 sent 4 signers, Georgia with a
pop. of 56,000 sent 3 signers, Virginia with a pop. of 538,000 sent 7 signers, North
Carolina with a pop. of 270,000 sent 3 signers, South Carolina with a pop. of 180,000 sent
4 signers, New Jersey with a pop. of 139,000 sent 5 signers, Connecticut with a pop. of
206,000 sent 4 signers, and finally Maryland with a pop. of 245,000 sent 4 signers. In
effect 56 men signing the Declaration of Independence were representing a little over
2,600,000 Americans.
Thomas Jefferson,
33 years old when he
wrote the first draft
Portable Desk used
by Jefferson to write
Declaration of Independence
Original Document
24.25 in. by 29.75 in.
Although we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th, the actual document was drafted by
Thomas Jefferson over a 2 week period in June of 1776. Taking comment and revision
from Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston, the official
document was voted on and approved by a vote of 12-0 with New York abstaining. On
July 4th the final document was sent to the printer and the first 200 copies were printed. It
was read to the public in the following days and presented at Independence Hall on July
9th. Most of the original 56 signers actually signed the document on August 2, 1776.
A great deal is known about the fate of the original 56 signers in terms of the price many
of them paid for committing such a treasonous act. Five were captured by the British and
tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned down. 9 of the 56
fought and died of wounds received during the war. Many of these stories have full
documentation, and we know how high the price of freedom was to this original group that
pledged “their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.” The youngest signer of the
Declaration of Independence was Edward Rutledge of South Carolina who was just 26 at
the time of the signing. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin himself who was 70
years old at the time of the signing.
Some of the more obscure facts help flesh out the lives and personalities of our true
forefathers. For instance, Button Gwinnett was one of the signers from Georgia. He was
the second signer of the Declaration to die soon thereafter. Due to a complicated and
longstanding feud with another politician named Lachlan McIntosh he was to die on May
16th 1777 in a duel with McIntosh. Although both men were shot in the thigh, Gwinnett
died of Gangrene 3 days later. He was only 42. The first signer to die was John Morton of
Pennsylvania who died of an inflammatory fever in April of 1777, just 10 months after
signing at the age of 52.
Button Gwinnett
Lachland McIntosh
Gwinnett did not
survive the duel
The youngest signer to die was Thomas Lynch of South Carolina who was just 30 when he
died. The last signer to die was Charles Carroll of Maryland who died in 1832 at the ripe
old age of 95. Considering how important freedom of religion was in the early days of our
new country it is interesting to note that there was only one clergyman who signed the
Declaration of Independence, and that was John Witherspoon of New Jersey. One other
note about John Witherspoon, after his first wife died, he remarried a 24 year old woman at
the age of 68. He fathered two daughters with her as well.
John
Witherspoon
There are two stories attributed to John Hancock who along with the recording secretary
(Charles Thompson) were the first two men to actually sign the document. The more
famous story goes that he signed his signature so large that King George could read it
without his spectacles. The other story a bit less known is that in fact there was a reward
for the capture of John Hancock and a few other patriots. The reward was 500 English
pounds. In today’s money, this is just about $640,000.00. In response to this Hancock is
reported to have said, “with his signature so large they could double the reward!” Both are
good stories, and like much of history improbable at best.
John Hancock
Big enough to be seen by King
George without his spectacles
The original document itself has undergone a number of official re-copyings, and
restorations. The original parchment was 24 ¼ inches by 29 3/4 inches. As President of
the Congress, John Hancock signed his name centered below the text. In accordance to the
customs of the time, the other signers began to sign at the right side of the text, their names
arranged according to the geographic locations they represented. New Hampshire as the
northernmost state began the list and Georgia the southernmost ended it. Due to the
chemical makeup of the ink and paper of the time, the original signatures were nearly
completely faded by the early 1800’s. Since 1952, the Declaration of Independence
(along with the Bill of Rights, and Constitution) has been kept in a temperature controlled
enclosure at the National Archives building. In all likelihood it is probably a near perfect
reproduction made by John Binns in 1819. The Declaration of Independence has traveled
to many different places in times of war and peace. At the official dedication and
enshrining of the Declaration of Independence in the National Archives Building President
Harry S. Truman said, “The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of
Rights are now assembled in one place for display and safekeeping…we are engaged here
today in a symbolic act. We are enshrining these documents for future ages…” It is
probably more than coincidental that the National Archives building is also considered by
most experts to be the most bombproof building in all of Washington.
Bill of Rights
Declaration of Independence
National Archive Rotunda….
Home to 3 most important
Documents in history of U.S.
The Constitution
The National Archive Building
Washington, D.C.
Other Interested Facts
 The first Fourth of July party held at the White House was in 1801.
 The Fourth of July was not declared a national holiday until 1941.
 The stars on the original American flag were arranged in a circle to ensure that all
colonies were equal.
 Oddly, the majority of the nation's flags and patriotic paraphernalia in relation to the
Fourth of July is produced in China. Nearly $349 million are used each year to
import the flags, banners, decorations, and emblems.
 Over $211 million has been spent on the importation of fireworks from China.
 More than 74 million Americans will BBQ on the Fourth of July.
 Over 150 million hot dogs will be consumed on the Fourth of July. That's roughly
one dog for every two people in the US.