Can you pull out a list of books on those 56 people?
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Certainly! While I cannot provide an exhaustive list, here are a few notable books that discuss the lives and stories of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, including the 56 people you mentioned:
"Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence" by Denise Kiernan and Joseph D'Agnese
"Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
"1776" by David McCullough
"The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution, 1783-1789" by Joseph J. Ellis
"American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson" by Joseph J. Ellis
"The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution" by David O. Stewart
"John Adams" by David McCullough
"Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" by Walter Isaacson
"Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power" by Jon Meacham
"Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow
These books provide insights into the lives, experiences, and contributions of the founding fathers and the signers of the Declaration of Independence. They shed light on the historical context and the challenges faced during the birth of the United States.
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Five signatories were captured and subjected to torture as traitors by the British before their death. The houses of twelve individuals were ransacked and burned. The sons of two signatories lost their lives in the revolutionary army, while another signatory had both of his sons taken captive. Out of the 56 signers, nine died during the Revolutionary War due to injuries or hardships.
These signers pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor by affixing their signatures.
What kind of people were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, and nine were farmers and large plantation owners, all of them affluent and well-educated. Yet they signed the Declaration of Independence, fully aware that they would face execution if captured.
Carter Braxton of Virginia was a wealthy plantation owner and trader who witnessed his own ships swept away by the British navy. He sold his property and possessions to repay his debts, ending up destitute.
Thomas McKean was relentlessly pursued by the British, forcing him and his family to constantly move. He worked without pay in Congress while his family remained in hiding. His property was confiscated, and poverty was his reward.
Marauders, soldiers, or both, looted the properties of Ellery, Clymer, Hall, Walton, Gwinnett, Hayward, Rutledge, and Middleton.
During the Battle of Yorktown, General Cornwallis took over the Nelson residence as his headquarters, as noted by Thomas Nelson Jr. The owner quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The house was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
Francis Lewis had his home and property destroyed. His wife was imprisoned by the enemy, and she died several months later.
When his wife was on her deathbed, John Hart was driven away from her bedside. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were abandoned. He lived in the forest and caves for over a year, only to return home and find his wife dead and his children missing. A few weeks later, exhausted and heartbroken, he passed away.
Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. This is the story of sacrifice in the American Revolution. These individuals were not arrogant instigators or villains inciting violence. They were genteel, wealthy, and educated. They had security, but they valued freedom more. They stood tall and firm, pledging, "With a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
Michael W. Smith
五名签名者被英国人当作叛徒抓获,并在死前遭受酷刑。十二人的房屋遭到洗劫和烧毁。其中两人的儿子在革命军中丧生,另一人的两个儿子被俘。 56 人中,有 9 人因革命战争中的负伤或苦难而战死。
他们签了字,并宣誓了自己的生命、财产和神圣荣誉。
他们是什么样的人?二十四人是律师和法学家。十一人是商人,九人是农民和大种植园主,他们都是有钱人,受过良好教育。但他们签署了《独立宣言》,清楚地知道如果他们被俘虏将被判处死刑。
弗吉尼亚州的卡特·布拉克斯顿 (Carter Braxton) 是一位富有的种植园主和贸易商,他亲眼目睹自己的船只被英国海军从海上横扫而去。他卖掉了自己的房屋和财产来偿还债务,然后衣衫褴褛地死去。
托马斯·麦基姆 (Thomas McKeam) 受到英国人的追捕,几乎被迫不断地举家搬迁。他在国会无薪工作,他的家人也躲藏起来。他的财产被夺走了,而贫穷就是他的回报。
破坏者或士兵或两者兼而有之,抢劫了埃勒里、克莱默、霍尔、沃尔顿、格温内特、海沃德、拉特利奇和米德尔顿的财产。
在约克镇战役中,小托马斯·纳尔逊指出,英国将军康沃利斯接管了纳尔逊故居作为他的总部。主人悄悄地敦促乔治·华盛顿将军开火。房屋被毁,纳尔逊破产身亡。
弗朗西斯·刘易斯的家园和财产被毁。敌人把他的妻子关进监狱,几个月后她就死了。
当妻子生命垂危时,约翰·哈特被从床边赶了出来。他们的 13 个孩子逃命。他的田地和磨坊都被荒废了。他在森林和洞穴里生活了一年多,回到家时发现妻子死了,孩子也失踪了。几周后,他因疲惫和心碎而去世。诺里斯和利文斯顿也遭遇了类似的命运。 这就是美国革命的故事和牺牲。这些人并不是目空一切、煽动暴民的恶棍。他们都是说话温和、有钱、受过教育的人。他们有安全感,但他们更看重自由。他们昂首挺胸,坚定不移地宣誓:“为了支持这一宣言,坚定地依靠神圣天意的保护,我们相互保证,保证我们的生命、我们的财富和我们神圣的荣誉。”
迈克尔·W·史密斯