JM, Steve, and Others

[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......"