thomas jefferson presided over the congress at the signing of the declaration of independence.
who presided over the congress at the signing of the declaration of independence?
thomas jefferson
the signing of the united states declaration of independence occurred primarily on august 2, 1776 at the pennsylvania state house, independence hall in philadelphia, pennsylvania. the 56 delegates to the second continental congress represented the 13 former colonies which had declared themselves the "united states of america," and they endorsed the declaration of independence which the congress had approved on july 4, 1776. the declaration proclaimed that the former thirteen colonies then at war with great britain were now a sovereign, independent nation and thus no longer a part of the british empire. the signers’ names are grouped by state, with the exception of president of the continental congress john hancock; the states are arranged geographically from south to north, with button gwinnett from georgia first, and matthew thornton from new hampshire last.
signing of the united states declaration of independence
eight delegates never signed the declaration, out of about 50 who are thought to have been present in congress during the voting on independence in early july 1776: john alsop, george clinton, john dickinson, charles humphreys, robert r. livingston, john rogers, thomas willing, and henry wisner. clinton, livingston, and wisner were attending to duties away from congress when the signing took place. willing and humphreys voted against the resolution of independence and were replaced in the pennsylvania delegation before the august 2 signing. rogers had voted for the resolution of independence but was no longer a delegate on august 2. alsop favored reconciliation with great britain and so resigned rather than add his name to the document. dickinson refused to sign, believing the declaration premature, but he remained in congress. george read had voted against the resolution of independence, and robert morris had abstained—yet they both signed the declaration.
signing of the united states declaration of independence