Independence Wasn't Instant | San Jose News

July Fourth isn’t when America declared independence—it’s when Congress approved the final version of the Declaration after 86 edits to Jefferson’s draft. Only John Hancock signed it that day; the other 55 signers added their names later, mostly on August 2nd, including eight who weren’t even born in the colonies. The document’s three parts—preamble, 27 grievances against King George III, and the actual declaration—were a massive moment, sparking riots in New York that saw a statue of the king melted down for bullets. Timothy Matlack, a brewer and soldier, likely hand-lettered the final parchment ordered on July 19th. This foundational text, preserved through decades of sun exposure and now protected in a high-tech casing, reveals history as a messy, debated process—not a single dramatic moment. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/74776725ddecf94f