Written Requirement.

Topic: Declaration of Independence.

 Garceau. pg2

Envisioned and composed by Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, the Declaration of

Independence is one of the nations most cherished symbols of the United States

liberty. Echoing the souls of Americans, T. Jeffersons enduring verses rang the

convictions of the hearts and minds of America. Between June 11 and June 28, 1776,

the Declaration of Independence was crafted. Jefferson was not alone in this endeavor

but was accompanied by both, John Locke's works, as a kind of political gospel guiding

the poetic transitions verse to verse, and the truth to be self-evident, that all men are

created equal (Declaration of Independence p1). The original Declaration is, at present,

exhibited in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in Washington, DC.

I choose this topic for a number of reasons, I believe John Adams had it right

when he said This Day the Congress has passed the most important Resolution, that

ever was taken in America May 15, 1776 (Burnett 159). It was the beginning of

America, the fight for Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. This same phrase

later became the foundation for the Bill of rights demonstrating the influence the

authors words. Since we are studying the development of US history, the United State

really came into existence as a separate and independent entity, after the ratification of

this resolution.

My project I had originally decided to do a pop-up book. However, after the

complete failure of trying to make moving paper parts, it ended up being more of a

shoebox style diorama (without the shoebox) along with some pictures. I used a

painting called Drafting the Declaration of Independence, (Thomas Jefferson is

standing, Benjamin Franklin sits reading, and John Adams sits in between them) and

attempted to make into a more 3D design. I also used the Declaration of Independence
 Garceau. pg3

as a backdrop along with a few more pictures of the drafting committee and John

Hancock portrait. For the original paining that I made 3D, it had both the structural

content multi-dimensions aspect that I could use and the vibrant color scheme. I wanted

a bright color scheme to not only stand out (the style of pop-up books), but to symbolize

vitality and rebirth verses a traditional black and white. Unfortunately, the photo was not

high resolution so I had to go back over the characters with watercolors to smooth out

some of the pixilation. I found most of the pictures just though Google images and went

scouting around for details.

The materials I used were the cardboard for the backboard, black, gold, silver,

yellow and white spray-paint to paint it. Then I used construction paper to fame out the

computer printed-paper like the Declaration of Independence and all the photographed

pictures. Used lots of poster board in the actual diorama to strengthen the paper so it

would not be so flimsy. In addition, I utilized a cardboard box for the window and more

construction paper for the trees. To mount, I hot glued everything and have the burns to

prove it. However, somewhere between the hot glue and the reinforcement of the paper

the once pop-up art turned into an unyieldingly stiff and inflexible diorama. After a few

attempts to fix it I gave up and went with the diorama and finished stabilizing it with

another six hot glue sticks. Since that took a good part of the day, I decided to use

pictures instead of making another diorama on the other side of the backboard.

However, I always like a good artistic challenge and decided to make another one of the

pictures three-dimensional but a different way. As it turns out this was just as time

consuming. What I did was print out six copies of the one painting, then hot glued the

original uncut to the backboard. The glue all the other four remaining photos to a thick
 Garceau. pg4

piece of cardboard, then cut out the pictures. Therefore, once they were also glued on

to the backboard there was a total of six glued layers. The fist untouched picture, then

all five men and the table, then four men, then two men with the table, then just the two

men, the final sixth layer being the hat. The painting was the of the drafting of the

Declaration of Independence called The Committee by Alonzo Chappel and the men

were Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Livingston, and Sherman. I had chosen this particular

painting because it had all five of the member of the drafting committee and had good

resolution.

The two other paintings were John Trumbull's famous painting Declaration of

Independence, which is commonly mistaken for a painting of the signing of the

Declaration. Nonetheless, this painting is very common and is even in circulation,

monetary circulation. It is on the back of the two-dollar bill. This painting is of the

drafting committee Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Livingston, and Sherman exhibiting the

drafted document to congress. I also have a scanned image of a two-dollar bill for

reference on the backboard. The other picture is portrait of John Hancock and his

infamous signature. Although my focus was mainly on the drafting of the Declaration of

Independence, I had to include the signature, which immortalized a man for his

bravado. Hancock was a first signer of the Declaration of Independence, president of

that Continental Congress, from of Massachusetts, and was a leading figure in the

American Revolutionary movement (not to mention personal hero).

For research, I used Wikipedia as a base and expanded looking for more facts

quotations and pictures from there. Actually did learn something interesting from Fourth

of July Myths by warren. Independence Day, July 4, 1776, is not the day the D.I. was
 Garceau. pg5

signed, (prevailing myth, which I also thought true). Disproved by Secret Journals of

Congress and Historian John Hazelton, the myth was officially proven false in 1906.

Many of the signers had not been present or elected in Congress on July 4, 1776.

However Congress on July 4, the real signing, unanimously approved the Declaration

was on August 2, 1776 and some others not present signed later. Most information

gathered came from paintings themselves; examples to know the members of the

drafting committee.

I did enjoy the creative art side of this project, not so much the written portion

though. Nevertheless, the written portion is the section that actually helped me

understand each painting in more detail, such as author, purpose and placement.

Having the art portion was nice break from just doing another report but was more time

consuming for me. Knowledge wise, I probably did not gain any more understanding

from the option then a normal research paper. Although in a normal research paper,

there would not have been such a focus on artwork and more on timelines and history.

In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence project helped me understand

more about its design, content and the men who created it. Even though the design and

building of the diorama was a long and lengthy process, it was worth the effort for the

knowledgeable and mind broadening experience. If I forget everything else, least I will

always remember what is on the back of the two dollar bill.

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Annotative

Adams, John. Continental Congress Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume: 3

January 1, 1776 - May 15, 1776 pg677 <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-
bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field(DOCID+@lit(dg003624))>
Quote used in report stating, This Day the Congress has passed the most
important Resolution, that ever was taken in America this was a letter from John
Adams to James Warren talking about the declaration of independence.
Chappel, Alonzo. The Committee. Online photograph. Descendents of the Signers of
the Declaration of Independence. 24 Nov. 2008
<http://www.dsdi1776.com/Images/historicsigning3.jpg >
Online photograph, which I used in my project. Also, found on the back of two
dollar bill.
Chappel, Alonzo. The Committee. Online photograph. Teaching Politics: Techniques &
Technologies. 24 Nov. 2008 <http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/fi/0000001f.jpg >
Online black and white photograph which I used in my project. Contains just the
members of the drafting committee.
"Declaration of Independence." Online Photograph. Clevelander. 24 Nov. 2008
<http://www.clevelandleader.com/files/signing-const (htt)itution.jpg>.
This was one of the online photographs I used in my project.
"Declaration of Independence." Large Online Photograph.UShistory.org. 24 Nov. 2008
<http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/images/declaration_big_enhanced.jpg>
Very detailed large scale photo of actual Declaration of Independence. Used as
Backdrop in project.
Jefferson, Thomas. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. 4 July
1776. 24 November 2008 <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html >.
This was the national archives where I found the Declaration of Independence.
Also read the short little paragraph for general knowledge.
"John Hancock." Online Photograph. Student. Britannica. 24 Nov. 2008
<http://student.britannica.com/comptons/art-52851/John-Hancock>
Picture of John Hancock used in project. Also signature on same page.
Warren, "Fourth of July Myths", Warren, "Fourth of July Myths", 24546
This was a paraphrased and general knowledge, no quotes. This was about the
actual signing of the Declaration of Independence and the myths that surround it.