Declaration of Independence

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Declaration of Independence
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June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee presented a
resolution to Congress

• He believed states should be free and independent
• Congress ratified for the Declaration of
  Independence
• Congress appointed a committee

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The committee wrote the Declaration of
Independence

• Thomas Jefferson did most of the writing
• John Adams persuaded Thomas Jefferson to write
  the draft
• John Hancock was first to sign it and was the
  president of Congress

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July 2, 1776 it was signed, July 4, 1776 it was
announced to public

• The document affronted Great Britain
• The writers were treated both as heroes and
  criminals
• 56 people signed the Declaration of Independence