History of Europe

How was the Declaration of Indepedence signed?

The Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4, 1776, as is commonly believed. In fact, it was signed over several days and in multiple locations.

* On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

* On August 2, 1776, the engrossed copy of the Declaration was signed by John Hancock and Charles Thomson, the President and Secretary of the Continental Congress, respectively.

* Between July 4 and August 2, 1776, the Declaration was also signed by the remaining 55 delegates to the Continental Congress.

* The Declaration was not publicly signed on July 4, 1776, as there was no large public gathering to witness the event. Instead, it was signed in a closed session of the Continental Congress.

* The signing of the Declaration of Independence was a momentous event in the history of the United States, and it is commemorated each year on July 4th, Independence Day.