Unit 3 Lesson 4: Rebellion and Independence
The writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence
Who was involved? Think about the people or groups who were involved and affected by this event.
What happened? Summarize the event!
Where did the event take place?
When did the event take place?
Why is this event important to Georgia's history?
The people involved in the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence were the delegates from the Thirteen Colonies, including prominent figures such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. This event affected the colonists who were seeking independence from British rule.
The Declaration of Independence was a document that proclaimed the Thirteen Colonies' independence from Great Britain. It outlined the colonists' grievances against the British government and asserted their natural rights. The document was written primarily by Thomas Jefferson and was ratified and signed by the delegates in July 1776.
The event took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall), where the Second Continental Congress was held.
The writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence took place on July 4, 1776.
This event is significant to Georgia's history because it marked a crucial step towards the American Revolution and the eventual independence of the United States. Georgia's representatives in the Second Continental Congress, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, and George Walton, all signed the document, making Georgia one of the founding states of the new nation. The Declaration of Independence also inspired and influenced the writing of Georgia's own state constitution in 1777, which established Georgia as a free and independent state.