The Declaration of Independence
Provided below are short biographies of all 56 signers of the Declaration. The first, largest, and most famous signature is that of John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge (age 26). Benjamin Franklin (age 70) was the oldest. Two future presidents signed: John Adams (second President) and Thomas Jefferson (third President).
Delaware • George Read• Caesar Rodney• Thomas McKean Pennsylvania • George Clymer• Benjamin Franklin• Robert Morris• John Morton• Benjamin Rush• George Ross• James Smith• James Wilson• George Taylor Massachusetts • John Adams• Samuel Adams• John Hancock• Robert Treat Paine• Elbridge Gerry New Hampshire • Josiah Bartlett• William Whipple• Matthew Thornton Rhode Island • Stephen Hopkins• William Ellery New York • Lewis Morris• Philip Livingston• Francis Lewis• William Floyd Georgia • Button Gwinnett• Lyman Hall• George Walton Virginia • Richard Henry Lee• Francis Lightfoot Lee• Carter Braxton• Benjamin Harrison• Thomas Jefferson• George Wythe• Thomas Nelson, Jr. North Carolina • William Hooper• John Penn• Joseph Hewes South Carolina • Edward Rutledge• Arthur Middleton• Thomas Lynch, Jr.• Thomas Heyward, Jr. New Jersey • Abraham Clark• John Hart• Francis Hopkinson• Richard Stockton• John Witherspoon Connecticut • Samuel Huntington• Roger Sherman• William Williams• Oliver Wolcott Maryland • Charles Carroll• Samuel Chase• Thomas Stone• William Paca
Delaware • George Read• Caesar Rodney• Thomas McKean Pennsylvania • George Clymer• Benjamin Franklin• Robert Morris• John Morton• Benjamin Rush• George Ross• James Smith• James Wilson• George Taylor Massachusetts • John Adams• Samuel Adams• John Hancock• Robert Treat Paine• Elbridge Gerry New Hampshire • Josiah Bartlett• William Whipple• Matthew Thornton Rhode Island • Stephen Hopkins• William Ellery New York • Lewis Morris• Philip Livingston• Francis Lewis• William Floyd Georgia • Button Gwinnett• Lyman Hall• George Walton Virginia • Richard Henry Lee• Francis Lightfoot Lee• Carter Braxton• Benjamin Harrison• Thomas Jefferson• George Wythe• Thomas Nelson, Jr. North Carolina • William Hooper• John Penn• Joseph Hewes South Carolina • Edward Rutledge• Arthur Middleton• Thomas Lynch, Jr.• Thomas Heyward, Jr. New Jersey • Abraham Clark• John Hart• Francis Hopkinson• Richard Stockton• John Witherspoon Connecticut • Samuel Huntington• Roger Sherman• William Williams• Oliver Wolcott Maryland • Charles Carroll• Samuel Chase• Thomas Stone• William Paca
A New Nation (1776-1815)
The leaders of the American Revolution made three great gambles. First, they sought independence from the powerful British Empire, becoming the first colonies in the Americas to revolt and seek independence from their mother empire. Second, they formed a union of thirteen states, which was also unprecedented, for the colonies had long histories of bickering with one another. Third, the revolutionaries committed their new states to a republic, then a radical and risky form of government.
The Constitution
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." — Preamble to the Constitution
Charters of Freedom
From Loyal Subject To Traitorous Rebels: When the last dutiful & humble petition from Congress received no other Answer than declaring us Rebels, and out of the King’s protection, I from that Moment look’d forward to a Revolution & Independence, as the only means of Salvation; and will risque the last Penny of my Fortune, & the last Drop of my Blood upon the Issue.