Your History teacher lied.

230 years ago today a bunch of old white guys in an un-airconditioned room adopted the Lee Resolution (hmm I recognize that last name) that declared our independence from Great Britian. The actual Declaration of Independence adopted by the Continental Congress on the 4th, just put on paper what was resolved two days earlier. So actually we have been free 2 days longer than we thought. Most of the delegates signed the document on 2 Aug 1776. Still some were delayed and signed it later. A total of 56 delegates signed it. Since they had no fax machine (invented 1863) and no phone line even if they had a fax, George III did not get the news until 10 August.

Oh, let me burst another bubble. John Hancock did not sign his name larger so that George III could easily read it, nor did he sign it that big because he had bad eyesight. He just always signed his name that big.

By the way, Coopers orginally made barrels, Wainwrights made wagons. Wheelwrights made wheels, Smiths were smiths, what did John Hancock's ancestors do for a living?