As relations between Great Britain and its American colonies became increasingly strained, the Americans set up a shadow government in each colony. As soon as fighting broke out among the two , these shadow governments took control of each colony and ousted all the Britain royal officials.
The actions of the Founding Fathers,or 'Patriots', who justified breaking the laws of England in order to secure independence for the U.S. In 1776, they were taking a huge risk in challenging the most powerful nation on earth.
High treason. That's what these men were committing when they signed the Declaration. Can you imagine what fortitude it must have taken for the Founding Fathers? If they had not been successful in their revolt, they would have surely been put to death. Had they lost the war, they would have been hanged, beheaded, drawn and quartered, and, my personal favorite - and had their entrails cut out and burned.
What the Founding Fathers were doing was basically high treason against the British Empire, which was then ruling the 13 Colonies. Not even all of the people in America supported them.
So legally, what they did was "wrong"..... but it brought us USA.
Benjamin Franklin put it oh so well by saying "Gentlemen, we must all hang together now, or rest assured we will all hang seperately". Meaning, they are in it together now, and if they are not committed to the cause, they will all be executed as traitors.
The men who signed the Declaration of Independence would be considered traitors and if caught by the British would be hanged for treason. their courage and commitment to their ideals and beliefs.They risked their lives, their fortunes and their honor for a cause that they believed in. How many people would do that today?
Here's to the men who did what was considered wrong, in order to do what they knew was right.
Of all the ideas that became the United States, there's a line here that's at the heart of all the others. "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and provide new Guards for their future security."
in other words.. "If there's something wrong, those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action. "
Signatures-The first and most famous signature on the engrossed copy was that of John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. Edward Rutledge, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, were among the signatories.The fifty-six signers of the Declaration represented the new states as follows (from North to South)
Source : Wikipedia & National Treasure
