On June 11, 1776, a committee of five was appointed to draft a declaration in compliance with the resolution which had been introduced on June 7, by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, and seconded by John Adams of Massachusetts, declaring that the United Colonies were and of right ought to be free and independent states. The chairman of this committee of five was Thomas Jefferson, who wrote our great charter of freedom. Associated with him were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingstone. It received the unanimous vote of the Congress on July 4, 1776. |