Signers of the Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

• It is the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence.
• This sentence, like most of the Declaration, was drafted by Thomas Jefferson during the Second Continental Congress in the summer of 1776.

• The Declaration was (eventually) signed by 56 people.

• This document is celebrated in the United States every 4th of July; the signing of this document is considered the 'birthday' of the nation.
• The phrase "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" has become an unofficial mission statement of the United States' government and/or society.

Use the map below to browse information about the signers. Note that there are several data layers. The polygons show the borders of the colonies circa 1776. (Keep in mind that Maine was a province of Massachusetts until 1820.) The dots show each of the 56 signers, located according to their birthplace. Once you've browsed the map, answer the questions below.

1. How many signers were born in Europe? How many in the British colonies?
2. Were more signers born in the New England colonies (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire), the middle colonies (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware), or the southern colonies (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia)?

You may have noticed that the data includes whether or not each individual owned slaves (that is, practiced enslavement). Take a look at the map below; it has the same polygons (colony outlines), but now the signers have been categorized according to whether or not they owned slaves. (Red = owned slaves; Blue = did not.) Examine the map and answer the questions below

1. Of the 56 signers, how many practiced enslavement?
2. Based on your number above, what percentage of signers practiced enslavement?
3. Was this information new to you or did you know this already?
4. If this information was new to you, does it change how you think about the Declaration, the 4th of July holiday, or the phrase, "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"? If so, how and why?
5. What questions are you left with about the Declaration, the signers, or the economy and society of 1776?

If you would like to view and explore the map in ArcGIS Online, the URL is  https://arcg.is/1q8K4S