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[tripp]

I have called talk shows and asked this question about how many Americans would really sign The Declaration of Independence under the exact circumstances that existed in 1776, and I’ve angered people. I present it this way to people as follows. The Declaration signing was illegal, and everyone who signed it became a hunted outlaw, with the threat of their families being killed and their businesses destroyed. The regular British army, the redcoats as they were called, were not a foreign enemy. They were our own government, and many of them were friends, family members and neighbors who sided with the British and fought. Also, all weapons were ordered confiscated by Britain in 1776, so The Continental Army were using illegal weapons. The Declaration signers were as much of outlaws as any American today who tries to take illegal weapons and mount violent resistance against Washington, DC.

Transport all the exact circumstances to our modern day for comparison. The 1776 Continental Army fought the regular British forces, which would be the same as a state army reserve (Alabama’s Reserve, Montana’s Reserve, etc) meeting the regular US army on the battlefield. And how do you think Washington, DC would respond if any US state today declared itself free and independent and sent its State Army Reserve to meet the US Army in mortal combat? That’s what happened in 1775-1783 and the Declaration was made valid on the battlefield only. If the French, the Dutch, and the Spaniards had not helped us, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and all would be considered outlaws in our history.

I don’t think we could scratch together one out of 100 Americans today to sign a Declaration of Independence against their federal government, not if it meant breaking the law and losing their families and their social status. And if we transplanted Americans from today to 1776, I don’t think they would have signed the document then either if they really understood they were signing up to be outlaws. Does anyone disagree? It’s popular to say “I’ll sign the Declaration” once victory is won, not popular if the chance of victory is unknown. The men and women of 1776 were of a different nature than we are today, and it was a totally different mindset back then. Would you sign the Declaration under the exact same circumstances today, or in 1776? I will be honest and say that I would not have signed the Declaration at all, because even though I wouldn't mind losing my life, I would not have been able to put my family's lives at risk as they did.

[hjortur]

Only 56 signed The Declaration of Independence

and they ALL understood what they where doing !
Duh
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http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/quotable/quote71.htm

" We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. "

Ben Franklin at the signing of the Declaration of Independence