America 250: The 56 Men Who Risked Everything in Philadelphia and the Debate That Still Echoes Today
If you've ever walked the cobblestone streets of Old City Philadelphia, you can almost feel the weight of history in the air. This weekend, as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, that feeling is stronger than ever. It’s a milestone that makes you stop and think about the sheer courage it took to stand up in a room and sign a document that the British Crown considered an act of high treason.
As a realtor who has spent over 20 years helping people find their own piece of the American Dream here in Lancaster County and South Central PA, I often reflect on what "home" and "freedom" really mean. Today, we look back at the 56 men who risked their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to define those concepts for us.
Where it All Began: The 1774 First Continental Congress
Before the famous signing in 1776, there was the First Continental Congress in 1774. Imagine 55 delegates meeting in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia. They weren't there to declare independence, not yet. They were there to figure out how to respond to the "Intolerable Acts."
These men, including John Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Washington, were fighting for the right to assemble and the right to petition their government. These are the very roots of our First Amendment. They established a culture of "free-flowing debate" that remains the heartbeat of our democracy today. Even when we disagree, the fact that we can do so openly is a gift we should never take for granted.
The Great Omission: The Slavery Argument
It’s important to remember that the road to July 4th wasn't without its moral struggles. When Thomas Jefferson sat down to write the original draft of the Declaration of Independence, he included a powerful, scathing grievance against King George III regarding the slave trade.
He called it a "cruel war against human nature itself." However, during the intense debates in Philadelphia, that entire passage was struck out. Why? To maintain a fragile unity. Delegates from South Carolina and Georgia, and even some from the North who benefited from the trade, refused to sign if it remained.
This moment reminds us that our founding was imperfect. Yet, the ideals they did include, that all men are created equal, gave future generations the tools to fight for the justice we are still working toward today.
The 56 Who Signed
Whenever I visit Philadelphia, I’m struck by the diversity of the men who eventually put pen to paper. They weren't just politicians; they were doctors, lawyers, farmers, and merchants. Here is the full list of the 56 signers, grouped by the states they represented:
New Hampshire
- Josiah Bartlett
- William Whipple
- Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts
- John Hancock
- Samuel Adams
- John Adams
- Robert Treat Paine
- Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island
- Stephen Hopkins
- William Ellery
Connecticut
- Roger Sherman
- Samuel Huntington
- William Williams
- Oliver Wolcott
New York
- William Floyd
- Philip Livingston
- Francis Lewis
- Lewis Morris
New Jersey
- Richard Stockton
- John Witherspoon
- Francis Hopkinson
- John Hart
- Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania
- Robert Morris
- Benjamin Rush
- Benjamin Franklin
- John Morton
- George Clymer
- James Smith
- George Taylor
- James Wilson
- George Ross *** From Lancaster PA***
Delaware
- Caesar Rodney
- George Read
- Thomas McKean
Maryland
- Samuel Chase
- William Paca
- Thomas Stone
- Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia
- George Wythe
- Richard Henry Lee
- Thomas Jefferson
- Benjamin Harrison
- Thomas Nelson Jr.
- Francis Lightfoot Lee
- Carter Braxton
North Carolina
- William Hooper
- Joseph Hewes
- John Penn
South Carolina
- Edward Rutledge
- Thomas Heyward Jr.
- Thomas Lynch Jr.
- Arthur Middleton
Georgia
- Button Gwinnett
- Lyman Hall
- George Walton
Right Here in South Central PA: Lancaster and York's Role in the Revolution
After the Declaration was signed, Philadelphia quickly became vulnerable as the British advanced. What had been the center of revolutionary debate suddenly felt dangerously exposed, and Congress had to move fast.
On September 27, 1777, the Continental Congress fled Philadelphia and passed through Lancaster. For exactly one day, Lancaster became the capital of the United States. That little piece of local history still stops me in my tracks every time I think about it.
Soon after, Congress moved to York, where it met at the York Courthouse from September 30, 1777, to June 27, 1778. For about nine months, York became the working seat of American government while the war pressed on.
While Congress was in York, the delegates drafted and adopted the Articles of Confederation in November 1777. That document became America's first framework of government, long before the Constitution was signed in Philadelphia years later.
As a Lancaster County realtor with more than 20 years of experience, I love knowing our local area literally housed the birth of American government. These are the same streets, neighborhoods, and communities I help clients call home every day, and that connection makes this history feel especially personal.
And in many ways, that spirit never left. The ideals that would later be protected in the First Amendment grew out of this era, and you can still see them alive today in our communities, conversations, and public life.
The Declaration of Independence and other historical documents can be found at the National Archives on Constitution Avenue in Washington DC.
The Articles of Confederation (signed 1778–1781 by state delegates): 48 total signers including Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Elbridge Gerry, Roger Sherman, Robert Morris, John Dickinson, Richard Henry Lee, Gouverneur Morris, Daniel Carroll, and Josiah Bartlett — among many others.
The Constitution of the United States (signed Sept 17, 1787): 39 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island skipped). Includes George Washington (presiding), Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, John Dickinson, and the others I listed in your memory bank — those previous notes were Constitution signers, not Declaration signers, so the PA and VA names you've got there are correct for that document.
The triple crown — signed all three (Declaration + Articles + Constitution):
Just one man: Roger Sherman of Connecticut. He's the only Founding Father who put his name on all three founding documents. (Fun fact: he also signed the 1774 Continental Association, making him the only person to sign all four.)
A handful signed two out of three — Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, and James Wilson signed the Declaration and Constitution but not the Articles. John Dickinson from Pennsylvania signed the Articles and Constitution but not the Declaration.
Freedom of Expression and the First Amendment
The courage of these 56 men paved the way for the First Amendment. Think about how much we rely on our freedom of expression every single day. Whether it's a neighbor hanging a flag, a journalist writing a story, or even me, sharing my thoughts on this blog, we are exercising a right that was bought at a high price.
In the real estate world, I see the "American Dream" manifest every time a family gets the keys to their first home. That home is their sanctuary, a place where they are free to live, speak, and raise their children as they see fit. It’s an honor to play a small part in that journey for my clients.
Why I Love This Country
I truly believe this is the greatest country on earth. Yes, we have our flaws and our history is complex, but the framework our founders built allows us to grow, change, and strive for a "more perfect union."
Working as a licensed REALTOR® in South Central PA has given me a front-row seat to the resilience and spirit of the American people. I’ve helped seniors downsize with dignity, military families relocate with care, and first-time buyers achieve something they never thought possible.
As we celebrate 250 years of independence, let's take a moment to be grateful for the freedoms we enjoy. Reach out to a neighbor, enjoy the fireworks, and remember the 56 men who stepped into that hot room in Philadelphia to change the world.
If you are looking to find your own piece of the American Dream in Pennsylvania, or if you need a REALTOR® referral anywhere in the world, please don't hesitate to reach out. I am here to help you navigate your next chapter with the same dedication and local expertise I’ve provided since 2004.
Happy 250th Birthday, America! May your weekend be filled with joy, reflection, and plenty of celebration.
Warmly,
Joyce Herr