"I AM WELL AWARE OF THE TOIL AND BLOOD AND TREASURE IT WILL COST US TO MAINTAIN THIS DECLARATION, AND SUPPORT AND DEFEND THESE STATES. YET THROUGH ALL THE GLOOM I SEE THE RAYS OF RAVISHING LIGHT AND GLORY. I CAN SEE THAT THE END IS WORTH ALL THE MEANS. THIS IS OUR DAY OF DELIVERANCE." - JOHN ADAMS DECLERATION OF INDEPENDECE By: Griffin, Timmy, And Emma

The first to Sign of the Declaration On the declaration of Independents there are fifty six signatures of the of the creators, and founders of the declaration. The first of the fifty six to sign was John Hancock. Born: January 12, 1737 Birthplace: Braintree (Quincy), Mass. Education: Graduated Harvard College (Merchant.) Work: Elected to the Boston Assembly, 1766; Delegate to, and President of, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, circa 1773; Elected to Continental Congress, 1774; Elected President of the Continental Congress, 1775; Member of Massachusetts state Constitutional Convention, elected Governor of Massachusetts, through Died: October 8, 1793

The Other Fifty Five to Sign Other signers of the Declaration of Independence including, John Adams, Stephen Hopkins, Tomas Jefferson, and Gorge Read. The most famous signature on the engrossed copy is that of John Hancock, who, as President of Congress, presumably signed first.

Author of the Decleration Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States (1801–1809), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Major events during his presidency include the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806). And died within hours of John Adams. Lived April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826.

History of the Declaration of Independence Jefferson preserved a four page copy, late in his life it was called the “Original Rough Draft”. The Declaration was first published as a broadside printed the night of July 4 by John Dunlap of Philadelphia. After the War of 1812, the symbolic stature of the Declaration steadily increased even though the engrossed copy's ink was noticeably fading.

THOSE WHO EXPECT TO REAP THE BLESSINGS OF FREEDOM, MUST, LIKE MEN, UNDERGO THE FATIGUE OF SUPPORTING IT. ~THOMAS PAINE The States of America say Good bye