![]() Jefferson’s fellow members chose him to write the initial draft, largely due to his rhetorical skills. In June 1776 the Continental Congress appointed John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson to the committee that would write the Declaration. Thomas Jefferson chosen to write Declaration The Declaration’s indictments against King George III show a vigorous exercise of freedom of speech and press further, by using the document to express frustration with rebuffs received to previous petitions to the king, the founders paved the way for later recognition of the right of petition, which is contained within the First Amendment. Declaration paved way for First Amendment rights Today the Declaration stands as the best-known document of the American founding, describing not only the U.S. The Declaration of Independence, formally adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, announced the United States’ independence from Britain and enumerated to “a candid World” the reasons necessitating this separation. (Image depicting the five-man drafting committee of the Declaration of Independence presenting their work to the Congress by John Trumbull via Wikimedia Commons, painted 1819, public domain) It is a colorful rendition of John Trumbull’s painting which hangs in the US Capitol building, and an enduring testament to their greatness.The Declaration of Independence, formally adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, announced the United States’ independence from Britain and enumerated to “a candid World” the reasons necessitating this separation. ![]() Forest Lawn’s tribute to these heroes may be seen in the Declaration of Independence mosaic at Forest Lawn-Glendale. Five signers were captured by the British and brutally tortured as traitors. Nine fought in the Revolutionary War and died from wounds or hardships. Two lost their sons in the war, and two others had sons captured. At least a dozen of the 56 had their homes pillaged and burned.Ģ42 years later, a grateful nation remembers their courageous actions and sacrifices. Signing the Declaration proved to be very costly. In fact, it was Benjamin Franklin who, after putting his quill pen down quipped, “We must indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall hang separately.”ĭespite such dire consequences, the reality was that our Founding Fathers valued freedom and its promise for themselves and their posterity so much so that they would risk and pledge their “lives, fortunes and sacred honor.” They were men of means and education, yet they signed the Declaration of Independence, knowing full well that the penalty could be death if they were captured. What kind of men were the signers? Twenty-five were lawyers or jurists. Eleven were merchants. Nine were farmers or large plantation owners. One was a teacher, one a musician and one a printer. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines treason as “the betrayal of allegiance toward one’s own country, especially by committing hostile acts against it or aiding its enemies in committing such acts.” When the 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, they knew full well that they were committing treason against England and they knew the penalty-death. Home » Reflections » 56 and Treason: The Declaration of Independence
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