The Dangerous Birth of a Nation
Great Lawn at the Lake Pavilion, 101 S. Flagler Drive
Imagine waking up one morning and realizing that writing your name on a piece of paper meant you could lose everything you owned, your family could be captured, and you could be executed. In 1776, that is what signing the Declaration of Independence meant. When the 56 delegates signed it, the British King viewed it as the ultimate act of treason.
Their courageous decision helped launch a country built on powerful ideas that have challenged, guided, and inspired Americans, and much of the rest of the world, for 250 years: liberty, self-government, and the belief that all people have rights.
As you stand with these Founding Fathers, remember: this was not just a document. It was the courageous beginning of the American experiment, now trialed, tested, and a quarter millennium strong.
Happy Birthday, America – here's to the next 250!
Meet the signers featured at this Photo Spot below. Learn more about the Declaration of Independence HERE.
John Adams: The Voice of Independence
The Risk: As a successful lawyer with a beloved wife, Abigail, and young children, Adams risked leaving his family completely unprotected and penniless if the revolution failed.
The Story: John Adams was the driving force on the congressional floor. He spoke with so much passion and logic that he convinced the other doubting delegates to vote for independence. He famously predicted that America’s declaration of independence would be celebrated by future generations with fireworks and parades—and he later became our second U.S. President.
Learn More About John Adams.
Samuel Adams: The Ultimate Rebel
The Risk: King George III was so furious with Samuel Adams that he issued a decree offering a full pardon to almost any colonial rebel—except for Adams. If caught, he was guaranteed to hang.
The Story: Samuel was the fiery spark of the Revolution in Boston. He helped organize the famous Boston Tea Party and spent years stirring up regular citizens to stand up against British unfairness. He was bold, stubborn, and hard to scare — exactly the kind of person a revolution needed.
Learn More About Samuel Adams
Benjamin Franklin: The Wise Peacemaker
The Risk: Franklin was already world-famous, wealthy, and elderly. He was 70 years old and could have chosen a quiet, comfortable life. Instead, he joined the fight for independence, even though it created deep divisions in his own family. His own son even remained loyal to the King.
The Story: Known for his witty humor, he kept the stressed delegates unified, famously warning them: "We must indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." He later traveled to France, where his fame and charm helped convince France to sail across the ocean and help America win the war.
Learn More About Benjamin Franklin.
John Hancock: The Giant Signature
The Risk: Hancock was one of the wealthiest men in the colonies. He risked an enormous fortune, a massive shipping business, and mansions—all of which the British military indeed seized or destroyed during the war.
The Story: As President of the Continental Congress, Hancock was the very first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. His signature was so large that it became famous. Today, people still use the phrase “John Hancock” when they mean a signature. According to legend, Hancock signed boldly so King George III could read his name without needing to use spectacles.
Learn More About John Hancock
Thomas Jefferson: The Master Wordsmith
The Risk: By writing the words that broke America away from the Crown, Jefferson made himself the revolution's most visible intellectual target, vulnerable to capture, seizure of property, and execution. British troops later raided his Virginia estate and forced his family to flee.
The Story: Only 33 years old, Jefferson was chosen to draft the Declaration because of his incredible writing skills. He spent days huddled in a hot rented room in Philadelphia, carefully crafting the immortal phrase that "all men are created equal." Those words became one of America’s most crucial, guiding ideals, a promise bigger than any one person, and one the nation would spend generations trying to fulfill.
Jefferson later became the third President of the United States.
Learn More About Thomas Jefferson
Robert Morris: The Financier of Freedom
The Risk: One of the richest men in America at that time, Morris used his personal wealth to fund the revolution. He gambled his massive shipping fleet, his banks, and his entire personal credit on a war against the world's greatest superpower.
The Story: Wars cannot be fought without food, uniforms, and ammunition. When the Continental Congress ran completely out of money, Morris stepped up and used his personal cash and credit to buy supplies and pay the troops. Without his financial bravery, George Washington’s army would have collapsed.
Learn More About Robert Morris