The Declaration of
Independence and Its
Signers
What sacrifices did these men make?
Objectives
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Students will be able to explain the events that
led up to the colonies severing ties with Great
Britain
Students will understand the main grievances
the colonials had with Great Britain
Students will be able to analyze the importance
of the Declaration of Independence today
Essential Questions
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What were four factors that led to the drafting and approval of the
Declaration of Independence?
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How can the formation of the American government be seen as an
illustration of the Enlightenment philosophy?
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What were three purposes of the Declaration of Independence?
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What were 4 grievances that the American Colonists had against Great
Britain in 1776?
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How well does America today live up to the ideals of the Declaration of
Independence?
Background to Declaration of
Independence
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Mercantilism: economic policy from 1500-1800 in
which nations encouraged exports as a means of
collecting gold and silver
Government controls all trade
Colonies ensured a safe and steady stream of raw
materials for England, including fur, fish, cotton,
tobacco, and indigo
Colonies were expected to import manufactured and
processed goods like iron products and tea
Navigation Act: England regulated what its colonies
could and could not trade
Background to the Declaration of
Independence
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After England won the French and Indian War, King
George III demanded control over the colonies
King George and Parliament felt the colonists should
bear some of the costs and administration of the areas
acquired from France.
Parliament passed several new acts designed to shift
to the Americans some of the cost of defense
Background to the Declaration of
Independence
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Stamp Act: required that all printed
materials be stamped to indicate that tax
had been paid
England began to change trade policies as
well by used a new monopoly on tea
Colonists were angered over the taxes
“No taxation without representation”
Stamp Act was repealed in 1766
Boston Massacre 1770 rioting over taxes
and the British soldiers killed a man
outside of the courthouse in Boston.
Crispus Attucks first to die
Why Did the Declaration of
Independence Happen?
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Boston Tea Party: a group of
angry colonists boarded 3 ships
in Boston and threw the tea
overboard
Intolerable Acts series of laws
designed to punish the people of
Massachusetts. It limited the
power of the colonial legislature,
required quartering of British
soldiers and closed the port of
Boston
First Continental Congress
formed
Second Continental Congress 17751776
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Convened May 19, 1775
George Washington appointed
Commander in Chief of the
Continental Forces
Appointed 5 men to write a
declaration stating the colonies
intent and reasons for
independence
June 1775 56 delegates met and
debated, each colony had one
vote
Deliberated for one year
January 1776 Common Sense by
Thomas Paine explained why
there should be independence to
the public
Resolution of Differences
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Second Continental Congress
drafted the Declaration of
Independence. Approved for
signature July 2
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July 4 1776 Declaration written by
Thomas Jefferson was signed,
John Hancock signed first with
the largest signature
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Severed ties with Great Britain
Declaration of Independence
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Thomas Jefferson understood what the
actions entailed
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Wanted to make sure the document
explained why the colonists wanted to
separate
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The second paragraph lays down the
philosophy for the decision.
“All men are equal”
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Government was to protect “life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness,”
fundamental rights of all
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When the government failed to do so,
citizens have a right to overthrow it
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Overthrow is not for trivial reasons, but
when treatment becomes “absolute
despotism”
Three Basic Principles of the
Declaration of Independence
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Natural Rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness
Popular Sovereignty: People are the source of
political authority
Order: Importance of stability, overthrowing a
government is only the last resort
List of Grievances that were
Improper Actions by the King
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Dismissing colonial legislatures and denying the
colonists their right for self-government
Tax the colonists without their consent
Maintaining an army in the colonies without the
consent of the legislature and elevating the military
above civilian authority
Forcing colonists to house British soldiers in their
house
List of Grievances that were
Improper Actions by the King
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Making judges dependent on the King for their salaries and
their tenure in office
Refusing colonists the right to a fair trial in front of a jury of
their peers
Cutting off the trade of the colonies
Abolishing the Charters, forms of government, and important
laws of the colonies
Refusing to address colonial grievances
Renouncing the King’s authority to govern the colonies by
waging war on them
Encouraging domestic violence and Indian attacks on the
colonies
Results from the Declaration of
Independence
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86 Changes were made
500 words were taken out
1,337 words were included
18 signers were under the age of 40
Three were in their 20s
Half of the 56 signers were judges and lawyers
11 were merchants
9 were land owners and farmers
12 were doctors, ministers and politicians
Do you think there were
consequences for severing
ties with Great Britain?
What do you think some might have
been?
Impact Today
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Ideals of equality led to Civil War, Women’s Rights
and the Civil Rights Movement
Influenced the French Revolution in their Declaration
of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789
Latin American Movements of 1890s
Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh used it as a reason to
invade the south
During World War II it was kept at Fort Knox KY
More than 1 million Americans view it in the
National Archives each year
New Hampshire Delegation
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Josiah Bartlett
Matthew Thornton
William Whipple
Massachusetts Delegation
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John Adams
Samuel Adams: Had a
$35,000 price on his head
during the American
Revolution
Elbridge Gerry
John Hancock: Elected
Governor of
Massachusetts 10 times
and had a $50,000 price on
his head during the
American Revolution
Robert Treat Paine
Rhode Island Delegation
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William Ellery
Stephen Hopkins
Connecticut Delegation
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Samuel Huntington:
Elected Governor of
Connecticut 10 times
Roger Sherman
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New York Delegation
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William Floyd
Francis Lewis
Philip Livingston
Henry Misner (left
before signing)
Lewis Morris
New Jersey Delegation
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Abraham Clark
John Hart
Francis Hopkinson
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Pennsylvania Delegation
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George Clymer
John Dickinson (did not
sign)
Benjamin Franklin
Robert Morris
John Morton
Pennsylvania Delegation (cont.)
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George Ross
Benjamin Rush
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
Delaware Delegation
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Thomas McKean
George Read
Cesar Rodney
Maryland Delegation
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Charles Carroll: Last
signer to die at 95 in
1832
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Virginia Delegation
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Carter Braxton
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Jefferson
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Virginia Delegation (cont.)
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Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
George Wythe
North Carolina Delegation
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Joseph Hewes
William Hooper
John Penn
South Carolina Delegation
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Thomas Heyward
Thomas Lynch
Arthur Middleton
Edward Rutledge
Georgia Delegation
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Button Gwinnett:
Died in a duel in 1777
at 42 most valued
signature due to only
14 examples that
exist.
Lyman Hall
George Walton
Information on the Signers
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The following signers lost their lands, homes
and possessions due to signing and being in the
American Revolution.
Carter Braxton
Abraham Clark: 2 of his sons died in the
Revolution, both were prisoners aboard British
prison ship, “Jersey” in NY Harbor, 11,000
American captives died on this ship.
George Clymer
William Ellery
Information on the Signers (cont.)
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The following signers lost their lands, homes
and possessions due to signing and being in
the American Revolution.
William Floyd
Lyman Hall
John Hart: Lost his wife, 13 children and
home
Thomas Heyward
William Hooper
Information on the Signers (cont.)
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The following signers lost their lands, homes and
possessions due to signing and being in the American
Revolution.
Francis Lewis: His wife was taken prisoner by the
British and died two years after release. His property
near Harlem, NY was completely destroyed
Arthur Middleton: Was a British prisoner along
with Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward and sent
to St. Augustine, FL.
Information on the Signers (cont.)
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The following signers lost their lands, homes and
possessions due to signing and being in the American
Revolution.
Thomas Nelson: Fired a cannon at his mansion
because it was being used by the British and died
destitute and bankrupt. He raised $2 million for the
Revolution and was never repaid.
Richard Stockton: Beaten and put in jail and
starved, ending up an invalid. Lost estate and his
family had to live off of charity.
Information on the Signers (cont.)
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Philip Livingston: All his possessions in NY
were confiscated
Louis Morris: All his timber, crops and
livestock were taken and barred from his home
and family for 7 years
Dr. John Witherspoon: President of College
of New Jersey, later Princeton. Princeton was
occupied and library burned.
Information on the Signers (cont.)
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Robert Morris: Merchant in Philadelphia, raised
arms and provisions for Washington’s army. He lost
150 ships at sea.
Dr. Benjamin Rush
John Morton: Had views of a Tory prior to signing.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.: Developed health problems
while a company commander in the army. He was
told to seek a cure in the West Indies and he and his
wife were drowned at sea.
Information on the Signers (cont.)
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Of the 56, nine died of wounds or hardships
during the war
5 were captured and imprisoned, all brutally
treated
12 saw their homes burned
17 lost everything they owned
Not one went back on their word
All stood by the Declaration of Independence
Results from the Declaration of
Independence
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Most of them had large estates, all but two had
families
Each had more to lose from revolution than
gain
John Hancock already had a price on him and
had the largest signature to ensure the King
could read it
Questions to Answer:
CHOOSE 4 50 points
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What were four factors that led to the drafting and approval of the Declaration of
Independence?

How can the formation of the American government be seen as an illustration of
the Enlightenment philosophy?

What were three purposes of the Declaration of Independence?

What were 4 grievances that the American Colonists had against Great Britain in
1776?

Why was it necessary for Jefferson to outline the philosophy of the new nation
instead of just listing what they king did wrong?
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What does “pursuit of happiness” mean?
How well does America today live up to the ideals of the Declaration of
Independence?
Results from the Signing of the
Declaration of Independence
Open Response: CHOOSE ONE
 Can you connect the actions of the British Parliament
towards to colonists to the start of the American
Revolution? Use three actions to support your case.
Describe each action and explain how it led to
colonial discontent and revolt.
 What are two lessons about decision making
emphasized today in our study of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence? Were there costs
involved? What were the rewards and consequences
of the decisions made by these men?