Creating the Declaration of Independence - A Time Line

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Creating the Declaration of Independence - A Time
Line

• June 7, 1776 Lees Resolution
• Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, read
  a resolution before the Continental Congress.
• "that these United Colonies are, and of right
  ought to be, free and independent States, that
  they are absolved from all allegiance to the
  British Crown, and that all political connection
  between them and the State of Great Britain is,
  and ought to be, totally dissolved."

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June 11, 1776

• Committee of Five Appointed
• The "Committee of Five" was appointed to draft a
  statement presenting to the world the colonies
  case for independence.

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June 11-July 1, 1776

• Declaration of Independence Drafted
• On June 11, Congress recessed for three weeks.
  During this period the "Committee of Five" (John
  Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert
  Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson) drafted the
  Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson
  drafted it Adams and Franklin made changes to
  it. Congress reconvened on July 1, 1776.

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July 2, 1776

• Lee Resolution Adopted Consideration of
  Declaration
• On July 2, the Lee resolution was adopted by 12
  of the 13 colonies (New York did not vote).
  Immediately afterward, Congress began to consider
  the Declaration. Congress made some alterations
  and deletions to it on July 2, 3, and the morning
  of the 4th.

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July 4, 1776

• Declaration of Independence Adopted and Printed
• Late in the morning of July 4, the Declaration
  was officially adopted, and the "Committee of
  Five" took the manuscript copy of the document to
  John Dunlap, official printer to the Congress.

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July 5, 1776

• Copies of the Declaration Dispatched
• On the morning of the July 5, copies printed by
  John Dunlap were dispatched by members of
  Congress to various committees, assemblies, and
  to the commanders of the Continental troops.

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July 19, 1776

• Congress Orders the Declaration Engrossed on
  Parchment
• Congress ordered that the Declaration be "fairly
  engrossed on parchment, with the title and stile
  sic of The unanimous declaration of the
  thirteen United States of America and that the
  same, when engrossed, be signed by every member
  of Congress."

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August 2, 1776

• Declaration Signed
• The document was signed by most of the members on
  August 2. George Wythe signed on August 27. On
  September 4, Richard Henry Lee, Elbridge Gerry,
  and Oliver Wilcott signed. Matthew Thornton
  signed on November 19, and Thomas McKean signed
  in 1781.

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Declaration Scrambled Outline
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The Declaration of Independence

• If we are going to separate, we should explain
  why
• All men
• Government derives its power from the people
• When deprived of rights people should overthrow
  such government
• Give this serious consideration
• History of the king is one of abuse of power.
• List of grievances
• Declare independence

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