Although the section of the Lee Resolution dealing with independence was not adopted until July 2, Congress appointed on June 10 a committee of five to draft a statement of independence for the colonies. The committee included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman, with the actual writing delegated to Jefferson. Jefferson drafted the statement The Committee of Five was appointed by the Continental Congress in 1776 to draft the Declaration of Independence. This committee consisted of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. The Committee of Five did not keep minutes of their meetings or deliberations. What is known is that the group of men worked together from June 11 to June 28, 1776, with Thomas Jefferson, at John Adams’ urging, writing the first draft of the document. On June 11th, the Continental Congress nominated a drafting committee of five men to compose a declaration of independence. Author, Author! Many words describe Thomas Jefferson. He is best remembered as the person who wrote the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States. Declaration of Independence APUSH Definition and Significance The definition of the Declaration of Independence for APUSH is a foundational document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it announced the independence of the 13 Original Colonies from British rule. The committee appointed June 11, 1776, to prepare a declaration of independence consisted of Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. The Committee of Five of the Second Continental Congress was a group of five members who drafted and presented to the full Congress in Pennsylvania State House what would become the United States Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776. An 1876 print representing the "Declaration Committee," chaired by Thomas Jefferson, which was charged in June 1776 with drafting a declaration of independence for action by the Continental Congress During this period the "Committee of Five" (John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson) drafted the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson drafted it, Adams and Franklin made changes to it. Congress reconvened on July 1, 1776. Still, it was he who was given the task of drafting the Declaration of Independence, which would become the foremost statement of human liberty and equality ever written. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like When did Thomas Jefferson live?, Which of the following people joined Jefferson on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence?, Which of the following committees was NOT formed by the Continental Congress in June 1776? and more. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like What point did Jefferson make about slavery in his first draft of the Declaration?, Which of the following is NOT a grievance listed in the Declaration?, One of the most substantive changes the Continental Congress made to Jefferson's draft of the Declaration was to and more. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston appointed to a committee to draft a declaration of independence. The committee chosen to draft a declaration of independence for the 13 North American British colonies is shown at work in this 19th century engraving. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Who appointed Jefferson to the committee for drafting a declaration of independence?, What was one change of the Declaration that Jefferson was critical of?, MASON'S VIRGINIA DECLARATION OF RIGHTS and more. The Committee in charge of drafting the Declaration of Independence: delegates John Adams of Massachusetts, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert R. Livingston of New York, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania. Led by Thomas Jefferson, the committee worked tirelessly to create a document that would declare America’s independence from British rule and articulate the core principles of freedom and self-governance. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to lead the committee responsible for drafting a declaration of independence. John Adams was part of the reason for this. Prior to this, Jefferson had written a pamphlet called A Summary Review of the Rights of British America. It denied all parliamentary authority over America and argued that the ties to British monarchy were volunteering and not irrevocable. This Declaration committee operated from June 11,1776 until July 5, 1776, the day on which the Declaration was published. The Committee of Five first presented the document to Congress on June 28, 1776. Drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776 became the defining event in Thomas Jefferson's life. Despite Jefferson's desire to return to Virginia to help write that state's constitution, the Continental Congress appointed him to the five-person committee for drafting a declaration of independence. That committee subsequently assigned him the task of producing a draft document for its
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