A bit more on the history of the Declaration of Independence

This is copied and pasted from the Library of Congress page on the Declaration of Independence.

It shows dates related to the document's creation and publication.

• June 7 - Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution urging Congress to declare independence from Great Britain.

• June 11 - Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston were appointed to a committee to draft a declaration of independence.

• June 28 - A fair copy of the committee draft of the Declaration of Independence was read in Congress.

• July 1-4 - Congress debated and revised the Declaration of Independence.

• July 2 - Congress declared independence by adopting the Lee Resolution.

• July 4 - Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

• July 4 - Congress ordered that the Declaration of Independence be printed (Dunlap Broadsides).

• July 19 - Congress ordered the Declaration of Independence engrossed (officially inscribed) and signed by members.

• August 2 - The engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence was signed by most of the delegates. Elbridge Gerry, Oliver Wolcott, Lewis Morris, Thomas McKean, and Matthew Thornton all signed on a later date.

Here are a few more links with history related to the document - in case you find this sort of thing interesting.I do.

- Wikipedia: John Dunlap.
- Publishing and Publicizing the Declaration of Independence.
- Federal Legislation Establishing the Fourth of July Holiday.
- History of the Declaration of Independence.
- Facts about the Declaration.