_{Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826)}

Founding Father Thomas Jefferson served as the third president
of the United States from 1801 to 1809 was the primary author of
the Declaration of Independence.

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas
Jefferson reviewing the Declaration of
Independence in 1776.

On August 2, 1776, members of Congress affix their signatures
to an enlarged copy of the Declaration of Independence.

Fifty-six congressional delegates in total signed the document,
including some who were not present at the vote approving the declaration. The delegates signed by state from North to South.
        
        
        
        
        
       

(click)

On July 8, 1776, a 2,000-pound copper-and-tin bell now
known as the “Liberty Bell” rang out from the tower of
the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall)
in Philadelphia, summoning citizens to the first public
reading of the Declaration of  Independence. Four days
earlier, the historic document had been adopted by
delegates to the Continental Congress, but the bell did
not ring to announce the issuing of the document until
the Declaration of Independence returned from the
printer on July 8.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, the Continental
Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which
proclaims the independence of the United States of America
from Great Britain and its king.

The Assembly Room in Independence Hall in Philadelphia,
where the Second Continental Congress adopted the
Declaration of Independence.

John Hancock
(January 23, 1737 – October 8, 1793)

Draft of the Declaration of Independence being presented
to Congress.  

On August 2, 1776, members of Congress affixed their signatures
to an enlarged copy of the Declaration of Independence.

Fifty-six congressional delegates in total signed the document,
including some who were not present at the vote approving the declaration. The delegates signed by state from North to South, beginning with Josiah Bartlett of New Hampshire and ending
with George Walton of Georgia. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania
and James Duane, Robert Livingston and John Jay of New York
refused to sign. Carter Braxton of Virginia; Robert Morris of Pennsylvania; George Reed of Delaware; and Edward Rutledge
of South Carolina opposed the document but signed in order to
give the impression of a unanimous Congress. Five delegates
were absent: Generals George Washington, John Sullivan,
James Clinton and Christopher Gadsden and Virginia Governor
Patrick Henry.        

The signed Declaration of Independence is displayed next to
the Constitution in the National Archives.