John adams a leader in those debates remembered that jefferson was silent even in committee meetings though consistently staunch in his support for independence.
Declaration of independence thomas jefferson. Declaration of independence in congress july 4 1776. The united states declaration of independence is the pronouncement adopted by the second continental congress meeting at the pennsylvania state house now known as independence hall in philadelphia pennsylvania on july 4 1776 the declaration explained why the thirteen colonies at war with the kingdom of great britain regarded themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states no longer. Thomas jefferson is considered the primary author of the declaration of independence although jefferson s draft went through a process of revision by his fellow committee members and the second continental congress. A replica of the original building known as the graff house stands on the spot in philadelphia and was built in 1975 by the independence hall association.
How the declaration came about. Drawing on documents such as the virginia declaration of rights state and local calls for independence and his own draft of a virginia constitution jefferson wrote a stunning statement of the colonists right to rebel against the british government and establish their own based on the. Jefferson s inveterate shyness prevented him from playing a significant role in the debates within the congress. Drafting the declaration of independence in 1776 became the defining event in thomas jefferson s life.
He previously served as the second vice president of the united states from 1797 to 1801. The unanimous declaration of the thirteen united states of america when in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the. Today it is maintained under the most exacting archival conditions possible. The principal author of the declaration of independence jefferson was a proponent of.
The condition of the parchment declaration of independence is a sign of the place it has held in the hearts of many americans. Thomas jefferson april 13 1743 july 4 1826 was an american statesman diplomat lawyer architect philosopher and founding father who served as the third president of the united states from 1801 to 1809. Years of public display have faded and worn this treasured document. His chief role was as a draftsman of resolutions.
On saturday june 8th lee s resolution for independence derived from the may 15 1776 resolves of the virginia convention was referred to a committee of the whole the entire continental congress and they spent most of that day as well as monday june 10th debating independence. Thomas jefferson benjamin harrison thomas nelson jr. The chief opposition for independence came mostly from pennsylvania new york and south carolina.