July 4, 1776, is an important date in American history that is widely considered the birthday of the United States of America. But some people argue that Aug. 2 should actually be America’s birthday, since that was when the Declaration of Independence was signed. The National Archives says that the Second Continental Congress adopted the United States Declaration of independence on July 4, 1776, formally severing ties with Britain. The approved Declaration was printed on July 5. On July 19, Congress ordered that the document be engrossed on parchment, which is a process of copying an official document in large hand. It is surmised that the engrosser was Timothy Matlock, an assistant to Charles Thomson, secretary to the Congress. It was nearly a month after the Declaration was adopted before the document began to be signed by delegates. The signing of the Declaration of Independence occurred primarily on Aug. 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, a building later renamed Independence Hall. John Hancock, who was the President of the Congress, was the first to sign the engrossed copy. Signatures were arranged by states from northernmost to southernmost. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document, although not all were present to sign on Aug. 2. Some delegates never managed to sign the Declaration, including Robert R. Livingston of New York, who was a member of the Declaration’s drafting committee.