Committee of Five

Committee of Five. The Committee of Five was a pivotal group appointed by the Second Continental Congress in June 1776 to draft a formal statement justifying the Thirteen Colonies' decision to seek independence from Great Britain. This document, which became the United States Declaration of Independence, was primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson with critical input from his four colleagues. The committee's work, presented to Congress on June 28, 1776, set the philosophical and legal foundation for the American Revolution.

Background and appointment

The movement toward formal separation from the British Empire gained decisive momentum in the spring of 1776, fueled by pamphlets like Thomas Paine's Common Sense and the failure of the Olive Branch Petition. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of the Virginia delegation introduced the Lee Resolution to Congress, proposing a declaration of independence. While debate on the resolution continued, Congress on June 11 established a committee to prepare a draft declaration should the resolution pass. This procedural move, influenced by growing support for independence following events like the Battle of Bunker Hill and King George III's Proclamation of Rebellion, ensured a document would be ready for consideration.

Members

The five members, selected from different regions to build consensus, were Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Robert R. Livingston of New York. Jefferson, then 33, was chosen to write the initial draft due to his renowned literary skill and the political stature of Virginia. Adams and Franklin, elder statesmen and leading figures in Congress, were key editors and advocates. Sherman, a respected lawyer, and Livingston, who later administered the oath of office to George Washington, rounded out the committee, providing legal acumen and broader colonial support.

Drafting the Declaration

Meeting in Philadelphia, likely at Graff House, Jefferson composed the draft over seventeen days, drawing from contemporary ideas like John Locke's social contract and documents such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights. He presented his draft to Adams and Franklin, who suggested notable revisions, including changing "sacred and undeniable" truths to "self-evident" truths. The full committee then reviewed the document before submitting it to the Second Continental Congress on June 28. During the congressional debates from July 1-4, notably vigorous over the passage condemning the Atlantic slave trade, further edits were made, resulting in the deletion of about one-quarter of Jefferson's original text before the final adoption on July 4, 1776.

Historical significance

The committee's draft provided the definitive philosophical justification for the American Revolution, articulating the foundational principles of natural rights and government by consent. Its immediate effect was to transform the Lee Resolution into a powerful public manifesto, uniting the colonies and signaling to potential allies like France and Spain the seriousness of the American cause. The document's assertion that "all men are created equal" has inspired countless subsequent movements for liberty, including the French Revolution and the American civil rights movement.

Legacy and commemoration

The Committee of Five is immortalized in iconic American art, most famously in John Trumbull's painting Declaration of Independence, which hangs in the United States Capitol Rotunda. Their work is studied globally as a seminal text of the Age of Enlightenment. Annual celebrations on Independence Day honor their achievement, while the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. preserves the engrossed parchment. The drafting process is also commemorated at historic sites like Independence Hall and the Jefferson Memorial.

Category:American Revolution Category:1776 in the United States Category:Second Continental Congress