The Committee of Five Declares Liberty

The Five | Let’s start looking deeper at the Committee of Five.

In this lesson, we will introduce the Committee of Five that was tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence. Although there were countless other brave men and women who risked their lives to shape the creation of this document and our government, we will focus on the initial five in this committee. In the later grades, we will go more in-depth into the founder’s background as well as highlight additional Founding Fathers that did not serve on the committee.

On June 7, 1776, the Lee Resolution was considered by the Continental Congress. In response, they appointed a Committee of Five to draft the Declaration of Independence, which listed their reasons for independence.

The Committee of Five was made up of the Founding Fathers John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Livingston, and Roger Sherman.

John Adams was an attorney, diplomat, and the second President of the United States.

Thomas Jefferson was a diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and the third President of the United States.

Benjamin Franklin was a writer, scientist, inventor, diplomat, publisher, and philosopher.

Roger Livingston was a lawyer and politician.

Roger Sherman was a statesman and a lawyer.

The Committee of Five was composed of a larger group we call the “Founding Fathers.”

Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration but originally preferred for John Adams to write the Declaration. It was edited by the Committee of Five and then later by the Continental Congress.

Teacher note for the section below: Point out that we are going to discuss the background of several of the Founding Fathers and their role in shaping the entire government, not just their role in the Declaration of Independence.

July 2, 1776

The Lee Resolution, or the Resolution for Independence
The Lee Resolution, or the Resolution for Independence, was passed on July 2, 1776. Shortly after, on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress declared that the thirteen colonies were free and independent states. This is the day that the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence in its final form. We think of this date as the birthdate of our nation.

It was a brave decision for the men of the Continental Congress, who signed the Declaration, to make. It was not enough to simply declare independence – it would have to be fought for through war with the British. If that war was lost, these men would surely all be killed or, at best, imprisoned. The Declaration formally explained why the Continental Congress had decided to declare independence from Britain. They argued that British King George III was a tyrant – a harsh and cruel ruler — who had not respected the colonists’ rights. He had not approved laws necessary for the public good, and in doing so, opposed the very purpose of government.

How was King George III harsh and cruel toward the colonists?

As well as listing their grievances (complaints) against King George III to justify independence, the Declaration also stated the Continental Congress’ beliefs about the rights of men. The Declaration of Independence states:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal: that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
The statement that all men are created equal is the belief that all people are born free and equal. Unalienable rights are rights that are not granted by laws or by rules of a culture or community (known as customs). Rather, they are natural rights that are granted by God that all humans are born with and cannot be taken away.
The phrase provides three examples of such natural rights – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The right to liberty means that humans have a right to freedom (a right to be free).