 FACT: Throughout the movie, it is said the Declaration of  Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776, when in fact, it was only  adopted on that day. It was not actually engrossed on parchment, and  signed until August 2nd, 1776. The copy that was signed on July 4th  was a "rough journal" as it was called, and then only signed by John  Hancock, President of the Continental Congress and Charles Thomson,  the Secretary.