Replies

Yes - I wonder where those leaders are too. I liken it to the toppling of Saddam's Statue. That hopefully will be celebrated (again!) as Iraq's Independence Day after they (with our help) have secured their nation. Much as it took us many long years of fighting (with its defeats and misery and talk of "cut and run") to finally secure our Liberty (with France and Prussia's help).

And as I recall the wording was finalized and copies were made, but the Declaration of Independence was not signed until the fourth. (?)

OOPS - a bit off on my memory, not not signed until August:
AND - Victory was not declared until 7 years later.

July 2, 1776
Lee Resolution Adopted & Consideration of Declaration
On July 2, the Lee resolution was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies (New York did not vote). Immediately afterward, Congress began to consider the Declaration. Congress made some alterations and deletions to it on July 2, 3, and the morning of the 4th.
More Information in the American Originals Exhibit

July 4, 1776
Declaration of Independence Adopted and Printed
Late in the morning of July 4, the Declaration was officially adopted, and the "Committee of Five" took the manuscript copy of the document to John Dunlap, official printer to the Congress.
Printed Declaration of Independence

July 5, 1776
Copies of the Declaration Dispatched
On the morning of the July 5, copies printed by John Dunlap were dispatched by members of Congress to various committees, assemblies, and to the commanders of the Continental troops.
(On July 9, the action of Congress was officially approved by the NY Convention.)

July 19, 1776
Congress Orders the Declaration Engrossed on Parchment
Congress ordered that the Declaration be "fairly engrossed on parchment, with the title and stile {sic} of ‘The unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America’ and that the same, when engrossed, be signed by every member of Congress."

August 2, 1776
Declaration Signed
The document was signed by most of the members on August 2. George Wythe signed on August 27. On September 4, Richard Henry Lee, Elbridge Gerry, and Oliver Wilcott signed. Matthew Thornton signed on November 19, and Thomas McKean signed in 1781.