it is commonly believed that the declaration of independence was officially signed on july 4, 1776.
when is it commonly believed that the declaration of independence was officially signed?
july 4, 1776
the second continental congress adopted the declaration of independence on july 4, 1776, with 12 of the 13 colonies voting in favor and new york abstaining. the date that the declaration was signed has long been the subject of debate. thomas jefferson, benjamin franklin, and john adams all wrote that it was signed by congress on the day when it was adopted on july 4, 1776. that assertion is seemingly confirmed by the signed copy of the declaration, which is dated july 4. additional support for the july 4 date is provided by the "journals of congress", the official public record of the continental congress. the proceedings for 1776 were first published in 1777, and the entry for july 4 states that the declaration was engrossed and signed on that date (the official copy was handwritten).
signing of the united states declaration of independence
historians have long disputed whether members of congress signed the declaration of independence on july 4, even though thomas jefferson, john adams, and benjamin franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. most historians have concluded that the declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on august 2, 1776, and not on july 4 as is commonly believed.
independence day (united states)