56 men signed a document that changed the world forever. They were aged from 26 to 70 ( Ben Franklin) with most in their 30s yet they knew it would come with great sacrifice.
Signing the Declaration proved to be very costly. Five signers were captured by the British and brutally tortured as traitors. Nine fought in the Revolutionary War and died from wounds or hardships. Two lost their sons in the war, and two others had sons captured. At least a dozen of the 56 had their homes pillaged and burned. Several of these died bankrupt. Some had wives captured , tortured and killed.
Ben Franklin had the ominous line " we must all hang together or we will surely hang separately " that wasn't exaggeration.
An incredible moment in human and world history.
Signing the Declaration proved to be very costly. Five signers were captured by the British and brutally tortured as traitors. Nine fought in the Revolutionary War and died from wounds or hardships. Two lost their sons in the war, and two others had sons captured. At least a dozen of the 56 had their homes pillaged and burned. Several of these died bankrupt. Some had wives captured , tortured and killed.
Ben Franklin had the ominous line " we must all hang together or we will surely hang separately " that wasn't exaggeration.
An incredible moment in human and world history.
