Rutledge, Middleton, Heyward, and Lynch: Founding Fathers from South Carolina

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in history. It established the American colonies as independent states, and its philosophical ideals regarding freedom guided the United States and other nations worldwide. Fifty-six men signed the Declaration as representatives of their respective colonies, and each contributed to this historic document and the Revolution. The four signatories representing South Carolina, Thomas Lynch Jr., Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge, and Thomas Heyward Jr., were a group of young men who contributed their names and ideals during the American Revolution and the work they did before, during, and after the Second Continental Congress influenced not only the state they were representing but also the nation as a whole. This thesis explores the lives of these four men and how they impacted the politics of South Carolina and the United States during the Revolutionary period.