The Declaration of Independence
Free and Independent States
• Lee Resolution
• Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, read
a resolution before the Continental Congress
"that these United Colonies are, and of right
ought to be, free and independent States, that
they are absolved from all allegiance to the
British Crown, and that all political connection
between them and the State of Great Britain is,
and ought to be, totally dissolved."
Committee of Five
• Five men were appointed to draft a statement
making a case for American independence
• John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin
Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston
We hold these truths to be self-evident
• The Committee of Five draft the Declaration of
Independence
Almost Unanimous
• The Lee Resolution was adopted by 12 of the
13 Colonies (Now STATES)
• New York did not vote
• Congress decides to declare The United States
of America independent
Almost Perfect
• Congress debates and makes changes to the
Declaration of Independence
Independence Day
• Congress officially adopts the Declaration of
Independence
• The United States of America formally
declares independence from Great Britain
• Copies of the Declaration were printed
immediately
Dunlap Broadsides
• John Dunlap, official printer of the Continental
Congress
• About 200 copies were made and distributed
throughout the colonies
• 25 copies still exist
55 in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can’t offend
• Congress ordered that the Declaration be
“engrossed” on parchment with the phrase
“The unanimous declaration of the thirteen
United States of America”
• Handwritten by Timothy Matlack, official
scribe of the Continental Congress
55 in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can’t offend
• The engrossed Declaration was signed by most
members of Congress
• By November, 1776, 55 members of Congress
had signed the Declaration
• Thomas McKean, the 56th member, signed the
Declaration in 1781