At the official signing of the parchment copy on August 2, John Hancock, the president of the Congress, penned his name with his famous flourish. There must be no pulling different ways, he declared. We must all hang together. According to the early American historian Jared Sparks, Franklin replied, Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.
On August 2, during the formal signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock, as president of Congress, signed his name in a notably bold style. He emphasized the importance of unity among the signers, urging them to stand together in their commitment. This moment highlighted the gravity of their decision and the potential consequences they faced.
The historian Jared Sparks recounts that Benjamin Franklin responded to Hancock's remarks with a witty yet serious observation. Franklin noted that while they needed to unite, failure to do so could lead to dire outcomes for the individuals involved. This exchange captures the perilous stakes of their revolutionary actions.
