Lee Resolution (1776)
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed independence for the American colonies by introducing this resolution in the Second Continental Congress.
On June 11, 1776, the Congress appointed three concurrent committees in response to the Lee Resolution: one to draft a declaration of independence, a second to draw up a plan "for forming foreign alliances," and a third to "prepare and digest the form of a confederation." Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston were appointed to a committee to draft a declaration of independence.
On June 28, A fair copy of the committee draft of the Declaration of Independence was read in Congress.
On July 1-4, Congress debated and revised the Declaration of Independence.
On July 2, Congress declared independence by adopting the Lee Resolution.