Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 members of Congress, but not every delegate signed it. Several were absent or chose not to participate, including Jefferson, Adams, and Henry. The Constitutional Convention later had 55 delegates, with 39 signing the Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 delegates on August 2, 1776, although a few added their signatures later due to absence. Not all delegates to the Continental Congress signed the Declaration. For example, some were not present, like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who were abroad at the time, and others, such as Patrick Henry, who were opposed to the creation of a strong central government, chose not to participate in its drafting or signing. It is significant to note that many of the signatories, including prominent figures like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, were slaveholders, which reflects the complex socio-political context in which the Declaration was conceived and signed. Moreover, the Constitutional Convention that later took place had 55 delegates, of which 39 signed the resulting document. Rhode Island did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and some influential figures like Jefferson, Adams and Henry were absent for various reasons.