Take our July 4th quiz to see what you may or may not know about America's birthday


July Fourth wasn’t the day the Continental Congress decided to declare independence; they did that on July 2, 1776. It wasn’t the day they signed the document either. So what happened on July 4? The Continental Congress approved the final wording. Take our quiz below to see what else you may or may not know about America’s birth certificate signed 240 years ago.

In a vote held by the National Archives and Records Administration, 75.9 percent of the participants named the Declaration of Independence the most influential document in American history. The original was engrossed on parchment and paper copies were sent to the colonies.

1.The Declaration of Independence was signed on what date?
  • July 4, 1776
  • Aug. 2, 1776
  • Aug. 12, 1776
    Answer: B, It took almost a month before the document was signed by the whole Congress. It was approved by vote on July 4th, 1776.
2.How many signatures are on the Declaration of Independence?
  • 50
  • 13
  • 56
    Answer: C, 56 men signed the Declaration; two members of Congress never signed.
3.How many of the 56 signers of the Declaration were born in England?
  • 56
  • 8
  • 1
    Answer: B, Eight of the signers were born in either England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
4.Put a face with a name. Most people know that John Hancock famously signed his name very large so the king of England could see it. What portrait below is his?
  • A.
  • B.
  • C.
    Answer: A, John Hancock was orphaned as a child and adopted by a wealthy uncle. He later became the governor or Massachusetts. Portrait B is John Adams, and portrait C is his cousin Samuel Adams, also from the state of Massachusetts.
5.How old was Benjamin Franklin when he signed the Declaration of Independence?
  • 55
  • 70
  • 60
    Answer: B, Franklin was the oldest member of Congress. He lived another 14 years and also signed the U.S. Constitution in 1788.
6.Where is the Declaration of Independence on display now?
  • The National Archives rotunda
  • The Jefferson Memorial
  • Independence, Calif.
    Answer: A, On average, about 6,000 people see it a day.
7.How many signers of the Declaration became U.S. presidents?
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
    Answer: B, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The grandson of Benjamin Harrison, William Henry Harrison, became a president as well.
8.How old was Thomas Jefferson when he drafted the document?
  • 45
  • 33
  • 30
    Answer: B, Jefferson was one of the younger members of Congress. The youngest was Edward Rutledge at age 26.
9.Where was the Declaration of Independence held during WWII?
  • Fort Knox
  • The U.S. Capitol
  • Area 51
    Answer: A, From 1941 to 1944 the document was kept in the Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Ky.
10.How long did Thomas Jefferson take to write the first draft of the Declaration of Independence?
  • One day
  • Two and a half weeks
  • One month
  • VIEW ANSWER #10+
    Answer: B, Jefferson worked on his first draft between June 11 and June 28, 1776.
11.The Declaration of Independence is now kept in a bullet-resistant, titanium-and-aluminum case. How many feet does the case descend when the archives close at night?
  • None
  • 1,776
  • 22
  • VIEW ANSWER #11+
    Answer: C, The case is kept in a vault below the National Archives.
12.The signers of the document grouped their signatures by colony. What colony had the most signatures?
  • Virginia
  • Pennsylvania
  • Georgia
  • VIEW ANSWER #12+
    Answer: B, Pennsylvania had nine delegates.
13.About how wide is the actual document?
  • 12 inches
  • 24 inches
  • 36 inches
  • VIEW ANSWER #13+
    Answer: B, the document is 24 1/4 inches horizontal and 29 3/4 inches vertical.
14.The Declaration hung on a wall exposed to sunlight for 35 years, from 1841 to 1876. What building was it in?
  • The U.S. Capitol
  • The U.S. Patent Office
  • The White House
  • VIEW ANSWER #14+
    Answer: B, the document along with George Washington’s commission as commander in chief were mounted side by side.

The three parts of the Declaration of Independence

Click image below to view.
General principles
States people have certain unalienable rights to Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Supporting evidence
A list of complaints with the English.
Final declaration
Lays the foundation for prosperity in America.

Sources: National Archives; The New York Times; Independence Hall Association

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