The Committee of Five

The history of the Declaration of Independence began in 1776 with the Continental Congress appointing a "Committee of Five" to draft a formal statement of separation from Britain. Thomas Jefferson was the principal author, drafting the document at age 33, in a Philadelphia boarding house, though it was edited by the committee and Congress before its adoption on July 4, 1776. The final text was then printed and distributed, officially announcing the colonies' decision to form a new nation.

(Credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

Drafting the Declaration

Motivations:

As fighting between Britain and the colonies escalated in 1775, sentiment for complete independence grew, fueled by publications like Thomas Paine's Common Sense and increasing oppression from the British government.

The Committee:

On June 11, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee of five.

John Adams - told Jefferson "You can write ten times better than I can." Edited the Declaration along with Franklin

Benjamin Franklin - Jefferson's friend and mentor, revised and edited Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson - author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States

Roger Sherman - the only founder to sign all four of America's original great state papers

Robert R. Livingston - (New York) later negotiated the Louisiana Purchase

Jefferson's role:

Jefferson, known for his writing, was tasked with writing the first draft, which he completed in a few days. He drew heavily on Enlightenment ideas, particularly those of John Locke, to justify the separation.

Revisions:

The draft was then reviewed by the committee, with Adams and Franklin making revisions, and the full Congress making further changes and deleting parts of the text before the final version was adopted.

Adoption and public announcement

Final approval:  After debate and revisions, Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Printing: The document was immediately printed by Philadelphia printer John Dunlap on large single-sheet broadsides, with approximately 200 copies produced overnight on July 4th to announce the news to the public.

Engrossment: On July 19, Congress ordered that the official, final version be "fairly engrossed" on parchment and signed by all members. This signed version is the one commonly seen today.

 

FUN FACTS: 

Jefferson was annoyed by the edits—he kept a “complaint copy” with all the deletions marked.

The famous phrase “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” replaced Locke’s “Life, Liberty and Property.”

First public reading: July 8, 1776, in Philadelphia—church bells rang, crowds cheered.

The parchment was hidden/rolled around during the Revolutionary War—nearly lost forever.

 

Additional resources:
The Committee of Five - Drafting the Declaration
Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence