Although the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, most of the delegates to the Continental Congress did not sign this historic document until August 2, 1776! More fun facts about the Declaration of Independence are available here, via the National Archives. (For example, Reese Witherspoon, the actress who played the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, is a direct descendant of John Witherspoon, one of the 56 patriots who signed the 1776 Declaration.)