Our Founding Fathers

Signing the document meant death. All 56 men – most of who were wealthy and had nothing to gain by signing the document -- knew they were putting their lives, fortune, property, and families’ welfare on the line. But yet, they signed their names, confidently, creating the most influential and meaningful document in U.S. history: The Declaration of Independence. After signing their names on July 4, 1776, these men experienced hardships that are seldom heard of for a cause that they knew to be right; they displayed greatness.
I once read an article by Rush Limbaugh Jr. (the father of the famous talk show host) about the founders of America and everything they gave up for America. They loved the country and, to them, signing their names on that piece of paper was a binding contract, a promise that they would not break, and it did not matter how tough life treated them. I used some information from his article in my next paragraph.
A delegate from New Jersey, Abraham Clark, had two sons fighting for America. The two young men were captured by the British to be taken to a British Prison in the New York Harbor. It was known as the “hell ship” because that is where 11,000 captives would die during the duration of the war. Because the soldiers knew the two boy’s father signed the document, they were treated worse than their fellow American prisoners. They were given no food, and were on the verge of death. Abraham Clark was brought onto the ship after he found out where his sons were, and was given an option. He could have his sons back, alive, if he would deny The Declaration of Independence and if he would hail the British King and Parliament; if not, his sons would die. With his sons on death’s bead, Clark boldly whispered the word that would pierce the spine of the soldier, and every American who would hear it afterward: “No.”
Rush Limbaugh Jr. summed up his article with a paragraph depicting the honor of the signers: “Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, in each case with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons or entire families. One lost his 13 children. Two wives were brutally treated. All were at one time or another the victims of manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word. Their honor, and the nation they sacrificed so much to create is still intact.”
The nation we live in is the best nation on earth, but we would not have it if not for 56 men who signed a document of freedom for multiple generations afterward to feast on; 56 men who lost lives, family, and property because they would not break their word of honor; 56 men exhibiting greatness.