THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE "DID YOU KNOW" FACT SHEET

Why was the Declaration of Independence written?

During the mid-to-late 1700s, the British Parliament passed a number of laws that severely limited the freedoms of English colonists in America. As a result, in 1774, delegates from the colonies formed the First Continental Congress to send a list of complaints to King George III. The King ignored the colonists. In June 1776, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and decided it was time to create a document that declared America's independence from Great Britain. Because the King kept ignoring the colonists' complaints, the only choice left was to rebel.


Who wrote the Declaration of Independence, and how long did it take?

The Second Continental Congress appointed a Committee of Five to draw up a declaration of independence. The Committee included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson (who was given the task of writing the document). From June 11 to June 28, 1776, he worked on a rough draft, which he presented to Congress on July 1. The delegates edited Jefferson's draft from July 2 to July 4. On July 4, they met in the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), in Philadelphia, and approved the Declaration. John Hancock and Charles Thomson signed it and it was sent to John Dunlap's print shop a few blocks away.


What are the Dunlap broadsides?

The Dunlap broadsides were the first printed copies of the Declaration of Independence. The term broadside refers to a sheet of paper printed on one or both sides, much like a newspaper page or a poster today. The average size of a Dunlap broadside is about 20 inches high and 16 inches wide.

Early on July 5, about 200 broadsides of the text were printed at John Dunlap's shop. They were rushed to the 13 colonies and to the army to be read aloud to the people. Congress ordered an official, or engrossed copy on parchment paper to be signed by all the delegates. On August 2, most members signed the Declaration, with others following within the next several months. So that is why the original printing of the Declaration of Independence is called the Dunlap broadside printing. It looks different from the engrossed copy of the Declaration, which was signed by the 56 delegates. That official signed copy resides in the National Archives building in Washington, D.C.


How many copies are known to exist? Where are they?

Of the 25 surviving Dunlap broadsides, 21 copies belong to universities, historical societies, public libraries, and city halls; and the remaining four are in the hands of private owners and foundations. One of the surviving Dunlap broadsides is on view as part of a tour known as the Declaration of Independence Road Trip.


Were the delegates putting their lives at risk by signing such a declaration?

The delegates knew that signing the Declaration would be considered an act of treason and punishable by hanging. That's why it was very important that they all agree on the contents of the document to show a united front. It was also very important that the Declaration be an outstanding document to make those great risks worth taking.


When was a copy of the Declaration sent to King George III?

When Congress ordered the first copies to be rushed to the colonies, it did not include a special delivery to the King and, to this day, we are not sure whether the King ever saw the document. But we do know that of the 25 remaining copies of the Declaration, two are in British repositories. According to the National Archives, "both copies were transmitted to England [by] Vice Admiral Lord Richard Howe [who was in the King's navy] dated 28 July and 11 August 1776 from his post aboard the flagship Eagle, off Staten Island." So it seems that the most important purpose of the Declaration was not so much to tell the King but for Congress to let the colonists know that their delegates had agreed on independence and that it was time to get ready to fight for it.


Why is it important for us to respect and understand the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independence is the birth certificate of the United States of America. It declared our commitment to freedom and guaranteed our basic rights. Every freedom we have as Americans comes from the Declaration of Independence. It is the foundation for our other precious documents, the Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Bill of Rights. Without the Declaration, our country would not be "the land of the free" as we know it today.