1. Australia
   Great Britain
2. Panama

The 13 colonies decided to band together and declare their independence from Great Britain. As it turned out, Britain wasn't too keen on the idea.

1. July 4, 1776
   December 25, 1666
2. December 7, 1941

If you're an American and you guessed December 7, 1941, a few World War II veterans would like a word with you. The Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776, a date that will live forever in the halls of freedom.

1. A month after it was adopted
   Right before the Civil War
2. About six months ago, actually

Typical bureaucratic behavior. The Declaration was adopted on July 4, but historians are pretty sure the politicians didn't actually sign the document until a full month later.

1. Thomas Jefferson
   Jeff Thomas
2. King Joffrey

Thomas Jefferson, perhaps the most eloquent man in American history, authored many of the most important lines of the Declaration.

1. true
2. false

It's true, the centuries-old document is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

1. Rather smelly
   Created equal
2. New England Patriots fans

It's a line that altered the course of human history. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

1. Unfair taxation
   Terrible tea
2. Incomprehensible British accents

Many people traveled to the colonies to escape government oppression, but then they were subjected to unfair taxation from the British. The idea of independence slowly but surely gained momentum.

1. 13
   50
2. 69

There were 13 colonies in North America when the Declaration was adopted. And once the Revolution was over, those 13 colonies became states.

1. true
2. false

The war had already been raging for about a year when the colonists announced the Declaration. But it would be a long time before the Declaration's ideals came to fruition.

1. 1783
   1774
2. 1812

The war dragged on until 1783, when the British realized they would never be able to put down the rebellion. After years of strife and death, the promise of the Declaration became a reality.

1. On July 4, duh
   On July 2
2. On Thanksgiving

Turns out, July 4 doesn't have quite the significance we sometimes think. The historic declaration of freedom from Britain actually happened on July 2. But the founding fathers didn't adopt the document until two days later.

1. 1
   Around 200
2. About 50,000

Once the document was approved, a printer named John Dunlap made about 200 copies, and around 26 known copies still exist. In 1989, a buyer stumbled on one copy and wound up selling it for more than $8 million.

1. true
2. false

Not all of the colonies were ready to declare independence. Some thought they should strengthen ties with other countries before trying to cast off Britain's chains.

1. New York
   Ohio
2. California

Ohio and California weren't colonies. But New York was, and its leaders were not at all sure about this whole declaration thing, so they abstained from voting.

1. true
2. false

Jefferson was the primary author of major lines in the document, especially in the first draft. But the Declaration was written by a five-person committee that wrote and rewrote the world-changing sentences.

1. George Washington
   Benjamin Franklin
2. Thomas Jefferson

George Washington was too busy leading the fight against the British to write a political document. He didn't write any of the Declaration.

1. 56
   2
2. 666

There were 56 signers of the Declaration. The men came from all corners of the 13 colonies to sign the critical document.

1. An explanation of why independence was necessary
   Pictures of King George
2. A list of famous rebels

Hey, they tried to be nice about it. The colonists set about declaring their independence and also explained why exactly independence was necessary to their lives.

1. 12 minutes
   A few weeks
2. Three years

With the war already raging, Jefferson set to work on the epic words of the Declaration. It took him a few weeks to churn out the first draft.

1. 2
   10
2. 19

Two of the Declaration's signers eventually became president. They were Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, and as it turned out, their fates were intertwined in many strange ways.

1. President Roosevelt hid them under his bed
   The Japanese captured and burned both documents
2. They were hidden away in a safe place

The world was a scary place after the Pearl Harbor attack. American officials hid the documents in Fort Knox for protection until World War II burned itself out.

1. He recanted his declaration
   He signed his name in blood
2. He used a fake name

Stockton was captured and imprisoned by the British, and they forced him to recant his declaration. After a long time in jail, he gained his freedom and then reaffirmed his commitment to the revolution.

1. There was a riot
   People fell asleep from boredom
2. He kept mispronouncing "declaration"

Washington's bold words so inflamed public passions that there was a riot. New Yorkers fanned the streets and tore down a statue of Britain's King George III.

1. 35
   70
2. 99

Franklin was one of the first and loudest voices for American independence. He was 70 years old when he signed the document, undoubtedly with more than a hint of glee.

1. true
2. false

Not everyone lived to see the glorious birth of the new nation. Nine men died before the Revolutionary War ended.

1. The British King was his BFF and he didn't want to hurt his feelings
   He didn't want to lose his free, lifetime supply of free wigs from England
2. He was busy fighting the war

Look, the British were mowing down colonists left and right. Someone had to shoot back. That'd be George, the Father of the Country.

1. "Ben Franklin was here"
   "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776"
2. "George = JERK"

OK, so it's not a secret code or anything. But for purposes of authenticity, the writers included, "Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776" on the back of the Declaration.

1. On July 4
   On December 25
2. On February 14

On July 4, exactly 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration, both Jefferson and Adams died.

1. true
2. false

Most, but not all, of the signers of the Declaration were born in the colonies. Only eight signers were born in Britain.

1. He was in the army
   He was illiterate
2. He didn't have fingers

Hamilton was a 19-year-old man in the Continental Army when the Declaration was signed. He quickly ascended to power and became a guiding force for the country.