The Ultimate Signers of the Declaration of Independence Quiz | American Revolution

Answer: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

Adams replaced the popular George Washington as America's second president. Unfortunately, he inherited a political landscape intensely divided between those who wanted a powerful central government and those who sought to protect states' rights. Adams was a man who acted on principle even if it went against popular opinion.

He successfully defended nine British soldiers on trial for their part in the Boston Massacre and as president he, at great political cost, averted war with France at a time when the public clamored for the conflict. Jefferson followed Adams as president.

The two one-time friends, who had worked together on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, became bitter political enemies. As runner up to Adams in the 1796 election Jefferson became vice president. Both had differing philosophies on how the nation should be governed and their political differences led to personal dislike and to no communication between them until their latter years. Jefferson was somewhat more successful as President with the Louisiana Purchase being one of his great achievements.

He served two terms as president but chose not to mention it on the epitaph he wrote for his tombstone. Ironically Adams and Jefferson both died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Answer: John Hancock

Hancock, as President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Other members of the Continental Congress signed weeks later. Hancock's signatures is by far the largest of all the signatures. He reportedly stated, after affixing his large autograph to the document, that he did it so "John Bull (England) could read it without spectacles". Today the American adage to "put your John Hancock" on a document means to knowingly sign the paper regardless of the circumstances.

Answer: Richard Henry Lee

Lee was a member of a wealthy and influential Virginia family. He was one of the Colonies' most vocal advocates of American independence. As a member of the 2nd Continental Congress he openly sought a declaration of independence from the colonies. Finally in May of 1776 Lee was authorized by Virginia to return to Philadelphia to propose a measure seeking America's separation from England. On June 2nd, 1776 Lee proposed "that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." Lee was initially appointed chairman of the committee to help create a final draft of his resolution so the delegates could vote on it, but his wife's illness compelled him to return home and Thomas Jefferson took his place.

Answer: Samuel Adams

Adams was vocal in his opposition of the taxes trying to be levied on the colonists by the British Parliament. He actively fought against the Stamp Act and Sugar Act. In 1773 Britain decided to tax tea that was being sold in the America. Even with the tax, the price of tea was cheaper in America than in Britain, but Adams led a revolt to stop the tax because he did not want England to set a precedent allowing Parliament the right to impose taxes on Americans.

This compelled Adams and the "Sons of Liberty" to board three British ships that were anchored in Boston Harbor, and disguised as Native Americans; dump the British tea into the sea.

The "Boston Tea Party" led to Adams being charged with treason and the order was given to arrest him with force if necessary.

He was never caught and Adams continued to be a leader in the fight for American independence.

Answer: Caesar Rodney

Rodney is known as the "Hero of Delaware". Suffering from asthma and with a malignant growth spreading across his face, Rodney was asked to travel eighty miles on horseback in order to break a tie in the Delaware delegation regarding the issue of American independence.

The patriot was in Delaware because he not only was a delegate in the Continental Congress, but he also served as the Brigadier General of Delaware's militia. Receiving the call to return to Philadelphia he made his famous ride in a fierce thunderstorm and tremendous heat arriving at Independence Hall on the afternoon of July 2nd.

His deciding vote allowed the Congress to achieve unanimity in their "act of treason". Rodney's ride was later remembered on the US quarter, minted in 1999, that honored the state of Delaware and their hero whose brave ride helped secure a nation's independence.

Answer: All these statements are true

Sherman signed all four of what is considered the most important documents in American history. In addition to the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution he signed, The Articles of Association of 1774, which called for economic sanctions against Britain and The Articles of Confederation which served as the fledgling nation's first Constitution from 1781 to 1789.

Sherman was also asked to serve on the five men committee empowered to write the Declaration if Independence. Also, during the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia in 1787, Sherman along with fellow Connecticut delegate, Oliver Ellsworth, proposed the Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise) which called for a bicameral legislature consisting of a lower house and an upper house.

In the lower house (House of Representatives) the people would be represented and the body would be filled proportionately based on population. In the upper house (The Senate) the states would be represented as each state would be guaranteed two Senators no matter the size.

In introducing this plan Sherman hoped to protect the interests of the smaller states.

Answer: Gerrymandering

The name "gerrymandering" is a blending of the words "salamander" because the shape of one of the districts created by the 1812 Masachusetts legislature resembled a salamander and "Gerry" the surname of the governor who signed into law the proposal that reshaped the Congressional districts. Attempts have been made over the years to stop this scheme, with the US Supreme Court ruling against the practice on at least three occasions (1842, 1962, and 1985).

However every ten years the issue arises again as Congressional districts are redrawn after the census results determine which states gain or lose congressional seats. Gerry not only served in the Continental Congress, US Congress and as governor of Massachusetts but he was also Vice President of the US from 1813 until his death in 1814.

Answer: Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison V was a Virginia planter who not only served in the Continental Congress but was the governor of Virginia from 1781 to 1784. He married his second cousin Elizabeth Bassett and their union produced seven children including William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States. William died thirty-one days after being inaugurated. William's grandson, also named Benjamin Harrison, was the United States' twenty-third President serving from 1889 to 1893.

Answer: Josiah Bartlett

Dr. Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet (he spelled his surname with one "t" at the end) is the name of the character played by Sheen in the drama series "The West Wing". Sheen's character was born in New Hampshire and like his namesake he was a Congressman and governor of New Hampshire. Josiah Bartlett, the signatory of the Declaration of Independence was, due to the vote being taken from the northernmost colony to the southernmost, the first to vote on the issue of America declaring their independence form Britain.

When the delegates reconvened on August 2nd to sign the document, his position made him the second delegate to sign the Declaration of Independence after Hancock, who signed it on July 4th.

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

Franklin is credited with inventing the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin Stove. He also published the famous "Poor Richard's Almanac" writing the original content under the pseudonym Richard Saunders. Probably the most famous of the signers, he was also recognized as a scientist, diplomat and political activist.

Many consider him the most important of the Founding Fathers. At the signing of the Declaration of Independence he reportedly said, "We must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separately".

At age seventy he was the oldest of the fifty-six who signed the declaration. Edward Rutledge, of South Carolina was the youngest signatory, he was twenty-six.