Benjamin Franklin said it best: “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
The signers were indeed facing treason if the fledging US lost the war.
Congress ordered the Declaration to be delivered to a printer named John Dunlap after it was approved on July 4, 1776. The Dunlap Broadside, which had John Hancock's signature at the bottom, was produced in around 200 copies and circulated across the colonies. Today, 26 copies remain.
Only John Hancock and Charles Thomson, the president and secretary of the Continental Congress, were included on the copy of the Declaration that the signers delivered to King George III. Why? They didn't want the identities of all the treasonous individuals to be known to the British! Keep in mind these names. The copy that was sent to the King is here.
Declaration. (A1)
One signer endured brutal punishment and starvation until he changed his mind. The only signer of the Declaration of Independence to later retract his support for the revolution was Princeton, New Jersey, attorney Richard Stockton. The unfortunate delegate was taken prisoner by the British on November 30, 1776. Stockton renounced his signature on the Declaration of Independence and pledged allegiance to King George III after months of severe torture and few nourishment. In December 1777, having become a shattered man after regaining his release, he took a fresh pledge of allegiance to the state of New Jersey.
Therefore, each person who joined was exposed to personal and financial dangers. Today, it is quite simple to minimize the risks because we are aware of the outcomes. No, they didn't. They had a young nation that was ill-prepared to finance and wage war. They shown bravery by signing their names.
Thanks,
Eddie
