Collections Online

Declaration of Independence [manuscript copy] handwritten copy by John Adams, before 28 June 1776

Declaration of Independence [manuscript copy] handwritten copy by John Adams, before 28 June 1776 Manuscript

page:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4

    • To order an image, navigate to the full
    display and click "request this image"
    on the blue toolbar.

    Manuscript

    32.5 cm x 20 cm

    From the Adams Family Papers


      Choose an alternate description of this item written for these projects:
    • Main description

    [ This description is from the project: MHS 225th Anniversary ]

    On 11 June 1776, Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston to draft a formal declaration of independence. At an early stage of the revisions, Adams copied the entire document. The Adams copy is extremely important for demonstrating the evolution of the text from Jefferson's original rough draft.