Signing The Declaration of Independence was “without a doubt an enormous, life-threatening risk, and if the colonies had not been triumphant-and honestly, it’s astounding that they were-these men would have surely been, as they used to say back in the day, fitted with a halter” (Signing Their Lives Away, page 9).
The Book
Growing up in America,
every kid learns about the Founding Fathers: Washington, Jefferson, Adams,
Madison, Franklin.
But, what about the many men who signed The Declaration of Independence? What was
their background and how did they end up in Philadelphia in 1776?
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The signers included: Elbridge Gerry, the father of gerrymandering
in American politics; Francis Hopkinson,
designer of the first American flag; Richard Stockton, the only signer with a
rest-stop on the New Jersey Turnpike named after him; and George Taylor, who
came to America
as an indentured servant.
The Place
Philadelphia
is full of history. The brick buildings and cobblestone streets hearken back to
a time when America
was just thirteen loosely affiliated colonies. A tourist destination for
decades, Philadelphia is the spot to explore the
birth of America.
I have been to Philadelphia
more times than I can count, but I still enjoy the visit.
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Note: According to
the National Park Service website, the underground museum closed for 18 months
(starting June 2011) for a complete renovation. Before you visit, check with
the site to see if the museum is open again.
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