INDEPENDENCE HALL

Here is Lance stepping back in time...

Here is where it all happened. The Declaration of Indepedence was debated, written and signed here. The Articles of Confereration and the Constitution were debated, written and signed here. This is where we became the United States of America.

This painting is of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It includes all the men who signed it. There is one man in front of the table who has his back to us. It was because this painting was done much later and no portraits could be found of him. The artist wanted to be sure to include him because he was a signer so this is how he solved it (sorry I forget his name)

This is the original Declaration of Independence -- it is preserved in low light in the Gallery of Essentials in the Independence Hall complex. It was signed officially by the Continental Congress on 8/2/1776.

This is the Articles of Conferderation and Perpetual Union. On June 12, 1776, a day after appointing a commitee to prepare a draft the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress resolved to appoint a commite of thirtheen to prepare a draft of a constitution. They were approved after ratification by the States on November 15, 1777.

It was felt that the Articles of Confederation lack the necessary provision for an effective government. There was no president or executive agencies or judiciary. There was no tax base. On September 17, 1787, the Constitution was signed and when ratified by nine of the thirteen states became effective March 4, 1789.

This is the silver ink stand made by Philip Syng which was used in

the signing of the Declaration of Indpendence.

This is the room the Continental Congress met. The chair is the original chair

that George Washington sat in.