The path toward the Declaration began on June 7, 1776, when Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution before Congress. It declared that the colonies “are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” The resolution also called for foreign alliances and a plan of confederation among the colonies.
Congress debated Lee’s proposal over the next several days. By June 10, the final vote was postponed so several delegations could receive further instructions from their colonies. Even with the vote delayed, Congress began preparing for what might follow, moving toward appointing a committee to prepare a declaration in case independence was approved.
The next day, the Committee of Five was named: Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston of New York.
The vote was still ahead, but the need for a written declaration had already become clear. If the colonies chose to separate from Great Britain, they would need a statement that explained the cause, answered the Crown, and spoke to the wider world.
Five Men, One Declaration
The Committee of Five brought together delegates from different regions and political backgrounds. Adams was one of independence’s most forceful advocates, while Franklin brought experience, reputation, and a sharp editorial eye. Sherman had long been active in colonial politics and resistance to British policy, and Livingston represented New York, a politically important colony whose position on independence remained cautious. Jefferson, the youngest member of the committee, had already earned attention as a skilled political writer.
Jefferson was asked to prepare the first draft. His earlier writings, including A Summary View of the Rights of British America, had helped establish his reputation. The National Archives notes that Jefferson had “established himself as a bold and talented political writer” by the time he was chosen for the task.
He began writing in Philadelphia, where Congress was meeting in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The Case for Independence
Jefferson’s draft did not emerge untouched. Adams and Franklin reviewed and revised the text, and other members of the committee and Congress later made changes as well. The Library of Congress notes that Jefferson’s “original Rough draught” shows the evolution of the document, including alterations by Adams, Franklin, other committee members, and Congress.
The Declaration drew from political ideas already familiar to many supporters of the American cause. It set forth principles of natural rights and government by consent, then listed grievances against King George III before declaring the colonies free and independent states.
Jefferson later described the document not as an attempt to invent new ideas, but as an “expression of the American mind.” The phrase captures much of the Declaration’s power. It gathered arguments that had been building for years and gave them a clear, memorable form.
On June 28, 1776, the Committee of Five presented its draft to Congress. A few days later, on July 2, Congress approved Lee’s resolution for independence. The text of the Declaration was then debated and revised before being adopted on July 4.
After adoption, Philadelphia printer John Dunlap produced the first official printed copies, now known as the Dunlap Broadsides. These were sent to state assemblies, committees, and military commanders so the Declaration could be read and circulated.
Philadelphia and the Road to Revolution
The Declaration was drafted, debated, adopted, and first printed in Philadelphia, a city at the center of the American cause in 1776. Our Penn Street Tea tin commemorates this historic setting, where Congress gathered and the words of independence were brought to the page.
