Facts

The continental congress reconvened on July 1, and the following day 12 of the 13 colonies adopted Lee's resolution for Independence.

As the first formal statement by a nation's people asserting their right to choose their own government, the Declaration of Independence became a significant landmark in the history of democracy.

In March 1776, North Carolina's revolutionary convention became the first to vote in favor of independence; seven other colonies had followed suit by mid-May.

Signing the declaration of independence was extremely dangerous-a treasonable act punishable by death.

Congress kept the names of the members who signed the declaration of independence secret until 1777.

Great Britain and the American colonies had been at year after the declaration was signed for over 1 year.

Thomas Lynch Jr. and Edward Rutledge were only 26 when they signed the declaration of independence.

The population of the U.S was estimated to be 2.3 million at the time the declaration of independence was signed.

In honor of the 13 original colonies, on independence day the liberty day in Philadelphia is taped 13 times.

The declaration has left the capital only twice, during the war of 1812 and during world war 2