T3+-+6.2B

T3 - 6.2B: Maddie Lukehart, Allie Prusha (Declaration of Independence)

Church bells are ringing in Philadelphia. The creating, singing, and engrossing if the Declaration of Independence is finished. Fifty-six delegates from the Continental Congress have worked on this declaration from June 7, 1776 to July 4, 1776 in The Pennsylvania State House. A document has been created and signed that could change history and give all of the thirteen colonies rights. Jefferson said in his document "among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Continental Congress had received a suggestion from Richard Henry Lee of Virginia to think about declaring independence from King George III. After much thought, Congress agreed to write a document. The Continental Congress considered writing a document as a declaration of war, but ended up writing a declaration of independence. The Continental Congress picked a committee of five including John Adams, Roger Sherman, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Robert R. Livingston. This committee was chosen to write a rough draft of the declaration. Thirty-three year old Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write while the others helped with ideas.  Jefferson introduced the document to congress. Jefferson stated in the draft "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal: that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights". The Continental Congress included a list of grievances including unfair taxation, cutting off trade, abolishing good and helpful laws, depriving colonists of trial by jury, hiring mercenaries to harass and kill colonists, and more. The Continental Congress voted on the document’s approval. Two passages were removed. Overall, the Continental Congress agreed with Jefferson’s ideas. The final document has no mention of slaves, African- Americans, or women. After fighting England nearly a year already, the Continental Congress finally declared Independence from England.  Timothy Matlack engrossed the document then gave it to congress to sign. Fifty-six delegates signed the final document. John Hancock's signature was the first and the largest. Delegates from Georgia include Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton. Delegates from North Carolina include William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and John Penn. Delegates from South Carolina include Edward Rutledge, Thomas Hayward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., and Arthur Middleton. Delegates from Maryland include Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, and Charles Carroll. Delegates from Virginia include George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, and Carter Braxton. Delegates from Pennsylvania include Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, James Smith, George Clymer, George Taylor, James Wilson, and George Ross. Delegates from Delaware include Caesar Rodney, George Read, and Thomas McKean. Delegates from New York include William Floyd, Phillip Livingston, Francis Lewis, and Lewis Morris. Delegates from New Jersey include Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart and Abraham Clark. Delegates from New Hampshire include Josiah Bartlett and William Whipple. Delegates from Massachusetts include John Adams, Matthew Thorton, Samuel Adams, Robert Treat Paine, and Elbridge Gerry. Delegates from Rhode Island include Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery. Delegates from Connecticut include Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, and Oliver Wolcott. This document will change our lives for better or for worse. These men might lose their lives for committing treason against King George III. This could also result in King George taking the Patriots' rebellion seriously and considered granting our freedom. These men were willing to risk their lives for the United States of America. These men were ready to declare independence from the tyrants known as England .