JM, Steve, and Others

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

Hmmmm..

Who was the youngest man to sign the Declaration of Independence?

Who was the oldest?

What two future presidents signed the Declaration?

Who was the President of the Continental Congress at the time of the signing?

How many men signed the Declaration?

What document was used by Thomas Jefferson as a foundation for the Declaration of Independence?



Tim.

Tim,

1. Can't remember

2. Benjamin Franklin

3. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

4. Don't know

5. 56

6. Don't know the exact name, but I believe it was the Commonwealth of Virginia declaration.

How'd I do? All of this was "off the top of my head" - I resisted the urge to look it up. Besides, my kids are 16, 14, & 12. I want them to know what the document says & "earn" the right not to have me wake them up really early - so I don't want it to be too hard.

JM

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

Tim,

1. Can't remember


4. Don't know

JM

1. Edward Rutledge

4. John Hancock

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by GarthB

1. Edward Rutledge

4. John Hancock

Tim & Garth,

1. If I remember correctly, the only "signer" who was under the age of 30 at the time. Any relation to JRut ?

4. How embarrassing!! That was an EASY question.

JM

[LakeErieUmp]

Oh how I yearn for the days of balling a fastpitch player, and hands being part of the bat (which means if my hands grab the $10,000 diamond ring from the jewelry case it's a part of me) and foul tips don't have to be caught!!!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

Tim & Garth,

1. If I remember correctly, the only "signer" who was under the age of 30 at the time. Any relation to JRut ?

Did he own slaves? I am sure my last name did not come from my ancestry of Western Africa.

Peace

[BigUmp56]

The youngest to sign was Edward Rutledge (26)

John Hancock was the president of the Continental Congress at the time.

You're correct about the Commonwealth of Virgina Declaration.


Tim.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

The youngest to sign was Edward Rutledge (26)

John Hancock was the president of the Continental Congress at the time.

You're correct about the Commonwealth of Virgina Declaration.


Tim.

Although some historians have assumed that the first paragraph of the Virginia Declaration of Rights influenced the Declaration of Indpendence, Jefferson does not credit the it with any kinship. The body of the Virginia Declaration is primarily a listing of 16 rights more similar to the the Bill of Rights contained in the US Constitution.

The Declaration of Independence took the form of a resolution with a list of grievances against the King and a conclusion, albeit without the "Therfore be it resolved," that "declared" the states "are and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States......"

[BigUmp56]

That's interesting, Garth. Does Jefferson attribute some of his drafting of the Declaration of Independence to the The First Virginia Constitution that was written in May of that year?


Tim.

[GarthB]

Jefferson, in his letters, refers to a pamphlet he wrote in 1774, "A Summary View of the Rights of British America," which shares some of the form of the Declaration of Independence and the listing of grievances. I'm sure you can find the document on the internet somewhere. Check it out, it will look familiar.

[BigUmp56]

I'll do that, thanks.


Tim.

[GarthB]

I apologize to those who are bewildered by how off-topic this thread became. One of my teaching endorsements is in history, and my family claims Oliver Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of Indenpendence, as an ancestor.

Thus, I am inclined to jump in on historical discussions, particularly those of "Colonial Times" and/or New York and New England.

Again, sorry.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Jefferson, in his letters, refers to a pamphlet he wrote in 1774, "A Summary View of the Rights of British America," which shares some of the form of the Declaration of Independence and the listing of grievances. I'm sure you can find the document on the internet somewhere. Check it out, it will look familiar.

Garth,

Personally. I find the first three "articles" of the Virginia Declaration of Rights to be obviously, let's just say, "inspirational" to the Declaration of Independence. Especially the actual declaration of independence part.

Most of the remainder (until the end) is clearly a progenitor to some of the basic principles embodied in the text of the Constitution and the following Bill of Rights,

"A Summary View of the Rights of British America", on the other hand (having first read it after your post earlier this evening), strikes me as more like the "Articles of Impeachment" section of the Declaration of Indepedence. As you said, it begins to articulate the grievances of the colonies in regard to their treatment by the British Crown; but I find it significantly less eloquent than the Virginia Declaration in the assertion of rights against those grievances.

JMO.

JM

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

Garth,

Personally. I find the first three "articles" of the Virginia Declaration of Rights to be obviously, let's just say, "inspirational" to the Declaration of Independence. Especially the actual declaration of independence part.

Most of the remainder (until the end) is clearly a progenitor to some of the basic principles embodied in the text of the Constitution and the following Bill of Rights,

"A Summary View of the Rights of British America", on the other hand (having first read it after your post earlier this evening), strikes me as more like the "Articles of Impeachment" section of the Declaration of Indepedence. As you said, it begins to articulate the grievances of the colonies in regard to their treatment by the British Crown; but I find it significantly less eloquent than the Virginia Declaration in the assertion of rights against those grievances.

JMO.

JM

Which is why I used the word "form" and not "style".