Timeline

June 7, 1776: Richard Henry Lee presents a resolution to Congress requesting to announce independence.

June 11, 1776: The Committee Five (consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston) was assigned to draft an announcement of working to achieve independence.

June 12-July 1, 1776: For weeks, the Committee Five reviews and drafts the Declaration of Independence.

June 28, 1776: Congress receives and reads the revised copy of the Declaration of Independence

July 1-4, 1776: Over a three-day period, Congress begins to consider the Declaration of Independence and makes new changes to the document. On July 2, the 13 colonies (except for New York) adopted Richard Lee's resolution. On July 4, Congress officially ratified the Declaration of Independence.

July 5, 1776: Copies of the Declaration of Independence are printed and delivered to various committees and assemblies. John Hancock sends copies of the first printings of the Declaration to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

July 6, 1776: The Pennsylvania Evening Post becomes the first newspaper industry to print the Declaration of Independence.

July 19, 1776: Members of Congress are ordered to engross (officially inscribe) the Declaration of Independence.

August 2, 1776: Delegates of the Continent Congress sign the engrossed Declaration of Independence. On the same day, a British reinforcement arrives at New York after forcibly retreating from Charleston, South Carolina.

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/timeline.htm

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_timeline.html

http://www.poetpatriot.com/timeline/tmlndeclaration-independence.htm