Letters From The Time Traveler: When Doing The Right Thing Means You May Lose Everything

Dearest,

When I think about the founding of our country, it makes me realize that the signers of the Declaration of Independence were warriors. And rebels. They signed and they pledged their lives and their fortunes. Most of them paid a very high price.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

• Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.
• Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
• Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary army
• Another had two sons captured.
• Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

What Kind of Men Were They?

• Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists
• Eleven were merchants
• Nine were farmers and large plantation owners