They Signed: The Signers of the Declaration of Independence Bruce Carlson

Who were the people who signed the document Americans celebrate on July 4th? A small part of that question is answered in this episode. An introduction to the Declaration of Independence, its importance in American history and the history of the American Revolution, makes up the bulk of this first podcast episode. Facts that many Americans would get wrong (though not a sizable amount of history buffs). Did we need a Declaration to have independence? When was it written? When was it approved? and When was it signed? Any look at the Signers of the Declaration of Independence should begin with those well known signers, but instead we start with some of the least known. John Hart, Thomas Nelson, Richard Henry Lee and Richard Stockton are featured, among others.

Everyone knows Jefferson. But who is Button Gwinnett? William Hooper? or Joseph Hewes? this episode discusses the signers from south of Virginia who made an important contribution and sacrifices oft forgotten. From the merchant with a divided mind, to the carpenter who worked his way up to a congressman, to the man lost at sea, we look at these southern Signers and the role of the states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Were the signers all rich men? Could it be said, as it has, that they were they looking out for their own? We look at these questions in this episode. As we examine some of the richest founders Robert Morris, William Paca, Carter Braxton, Thomas Nelson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Francis Lightfoot Lee, we find that the topic is more complex than the cursory discussions in many sources.

Though the vote for independence occurred on July 2nd, we celebrate the day of printing and publication. we look at the claim of both days and the role of the state that didn't vote on July 2nd: New York. And we take a look at its delegates: Philip Livingston, William Floyd, Francis Lewis and Lewis Morris, who eventually signed the Declaration and suffered loss of property when the British took New York.

No unease about Independence in this colony. Rhode Island, formed in dissent and the anchor of religious tolerance in America, was a bastion of Patriot activity. We talk about two Signers: William Ellery who invoked the "Sword." in his discussions about reconciliation and the shaky-handed but fearless Stephen Hopkins.

Ben Franklin would have been a busy, hard working printer and not a distinguished member of the Continental Congress had he not come up with a best-selling book that allowed him, eventually, to retire. Franklin was a key independence advocate in a conservative state that generally wanted to stay with Britain, his absence might have made history very different. A bit about Poor Richard's Almanack some passages which have some modern wisdom, and a bit about Franklin's early life.