The Declaration of Independence

Proposing a Resolution

Jun 7, 1776

Some colonies wanted Independence while others didn't. On June 7,1776; Virginia's Richard Henry Lee propsed that the Colonies should be free and Independent.

The Declaration of Independence

Period: Jun 7, 1776 to Aug 2, 1776

Choosing a Committee

Jun 11, 1776

Congress decided to create a committee to write the Delcaration of Independence. The people they put on the committee were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Sherman. They agreed to have jefferson write the Declaration.

Jefferson starts writing

Jun 13, 1776

Thomas Jefferson starts writing the rough draft for the Delcaration of Independence. As he sat at his desk in a Philadelphia boarding house, Jefferson drafted a "common sense" treatise without, he claimed, opening a single book or pamphlet.

Submitting the draft

Jun 28, 1776

Jefferson submitted his "rough draught" of the Declaration on June 28. Congress eventually accepted the document, but not without debating the draft for two days and making extensive changes.

Debating and revising

Jul 2, 1776

Congress debatedand revised the Declaration taking out parts and switching things around.

Ratifying the Declaration

Jul 4, 1776

Pressured by the news that a fleet of British troops lay off the coast of New York, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4. The Congressional printer, John Dunlap, produced broadsides of the document to be distributed to the public.

The Official Copy

Jul 19, 1776

Weeks later, on July 19, Congress ordered an official copy of the Declaration;

Signing of the Document

Aug 2, 1776

all 56 delegates of the Continental Congress signed it on August 2.