Faith Of Our Signers P12

The final line of the Declaration of Independence announced that the signers had personally pledged “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” Today, most Americans do not know the price paid or the personal risk each faced.

These men were not thinking they would someday be famous for signing the Declaration; rather they thought they would be targeted and likely executed. But they did not cower in fear, nor were they ashamed of standing for their principles. It was just the opposite.

John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, after signing the document in large writing, purportedly declared: “John Bull (King George) can read my name without spectacles and may now double his reward of (the equivalent of $100,000 today) for my head!” He added, “We must be unanimous. There must be no pulling different ways; we must all hang together.”  

Benjamin Franklin, responded with his characteristic wit, reportedly agreed. “Yes, we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately!”

Years later, Benjamin Rush reminisced to fellow signer John Adams about what took place on the day they signed that document, and the fact that they all understood they might hang for what they were doing. 

More on this next week for another American Moment.

Sourced from The American Story: The Beginnings by David Barton and Tim Barton.