"Mr. Jefferson's Assignment"
© Meg Greene Malvasi
Benjamin Franklin said his writing was too clever and fanciful to be put to such a serious purpose. Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut, said he was too busy with other responsibilities. Robert Livingston, a representative from New York, refused also, saying he did not have the literary skill. So who among the members of the Continental Congress had the time and talent to undertake this very important assignment?
Two men came immediately to mind. John Adams of Massachusetts and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. The conversation that took place between them must surely be among the most remarkable in American history. With it began the story of one of the most important documents in the history of the United States: The Declaration of Independence.
Adams pleaded with Jefferson to take on the difficult task of stating the case against Great Britain, explaining why the Americans could no longer remain subjects of the crown. Jefferson already enjoyed a reputation as good writer, Adams said, and as far as Adams was concerned, that made Jefferson the only man for the job.
Jefferson wasn't convinced. He believed Adams fully capable of writing the declaration and insisted that Adams "ought to do it." Adams, in turn, replied, "I will not. [There are] reasons enough." When Jefferson asked him what those reasons might be, Adams said, "Reason first: You are a Virginian and a Virginian should be at the head of this business. Reason second: I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third: You can write ten times better than I can." Whether Adams had flattered Jefferson's ego or whether Jefferson sensed that the work at hand was too important to waste time arguing about, he declared "Well, if you are decided, I will do as well as I can."
For the next two weeks Jefferson, seated at his desk in the rented house in Philadelphia where Congress was meeting, wrote furiously. He produced draft after draft of the document that was to explain to the world the Americans' decision to seek independence from the British empire. Surviving drafts of the Declaration show numerous revisions, additions, and deletions, documenting Jefferson's efforts to get his ideas on paper and craft his argument.
Jefferson drew inspiration for the Declaration from his vast reading of history and philosophy. In particular, he remembered the political philosophy of John Locke who wrote that the power of government derived from the consent of the governed. When the leaders of a government violated the rights of the people, then the people had ample justification to rebel. Although Locke's ideas sounded good, no one had as yet tried to create an independent nation on the basis of his principles. What the thirteen colonies were proposing was very dangerous indeed.
Two men came immediately to mind. John Adams of Massachusetts and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. The conversation that took place between them must surely be among the most remarkable in American history. With it began the story of one of the most important documents in the history of the United States: The Declaration of Independence.
Adams pleaded with Jefferson to take on the difficult task of stating the case against Great Britain, explaining why the Americans could no longer remain subjects of the crown. Jefferson already enjoyed a reputation as good writer, Adams said, and as far as Adams was concerned, that made Jefferson the only man for the job.
Jefferson wasn't convinced. He believed Adams fully capable of writing the declaration and insisted that Adams "ought to do it." Adams, in turn, replied, "I will not. [There are] reasons enough." When Jefferson asked him what those reasons might be, Adams said, "Reason first: You are a Virginian and a Virginian should be at the head of this business. Reason second: I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third: You can write ten times better than I can." Whether Adams had flattered Jefferson's ego or whether Jefferson sensed that the work at hand was too important to waste time arguing about, he declared "Well, if you are decided, I will do as well as I can."
For the next two weeks Jefferson, seated at his desk in the rented house in Philadelphia where Congress was meeting, wrote furiously. He produced draft after draft of the document that was to explain to the world the Americans' decision to seek independence from the British empire. Surviving drafts of the Declaration show numerous revisions, additions, and deletions, documenting Jefferson's efforts to get his ideas on paper and craft his argument.
Jefferson drew inspiration for the Declaration from his vast reading of history and philosophy. In particular, he remembered the political philosophy of John Locke who wrote that the power of government derived from the consent of the governed. When the leaders of a government violated the rights of the people, then the people had ample justification to rebel. Although Locke's ideas sounded good, no one had as yet tried to create an independent nation on the basis of his principles. What the thirteen colonies were proposing was very dangerous indeed.
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The copyright of the article "Mr. Jefferson's Assignment" in History For Children is owned by Meg Greene Malvasi. Permission to republish "Mr. Jefferson's Assignment" in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
