Lee Resolution

Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced the Lee Resolution proposing independence for the American colonies.

The Journals of the Continental Congress show that these three resolutions occupied the debate on Saturday, June 8 and Monday, June 10.

John Hancock told George Washington, “we have been two Days in a Committee of the Whole deliberating on three Capital Matters, the most important in their Nature of any that have yet been before us…”

On the 10th, Congress resolved, “that the consideration of the first resolution be postponed to this day, three weeks, and in the mean while, that no time be lost, in case the Congress agrees thereto, that a committee be appointed to prepare a declaration to the effect of the said first resolution.”

This pushed the discussion of independence to July 1.

Notably, although 1776 focuses only on the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the Declaration was only the first plan (of three) requested in the Lee Resolution, getting all three elements in place was necessary for the United States to survive and thrive.

In fact, the delegates of Congress all had different opinions about what order of events would have been best (and some had regrets about the Declaration of Independence being first), but regardless, they ultimately got the job done.

Full text of the Lee Resolution

That these United Colonies are, and of right to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.

(Source)

Timeline following the Lee Resolution

June 7, 1776

Congress considered the Lee Resolution, which has three parts (a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and a plan for confederation). It decided to address each part separately.

June 10, 1776

Congress delayed voting on the Lee Resolution until July 1 in order to amass more support for it. At this point, states that had not received guidance on how to vote (or that were not authorized to vote yes) included Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York.

Congress decided to establish a committee to develop the first part of the resolution regarding independence.

June 11, 1776

John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston were appointed as the Committee of Five to accomplish drafting a declaration of independence.

Congress decided to establish two other committees to develop the resolution's last two parts.

June 12, 1776

A committee with one member from each colony (except for New Jersey) was appointed to prepare a plan for confederation.

Another committee of five men was appointed to prepare a plan for treaties.

June 28, 1776

The Committee of Five presented their draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress.

It is unclear whether the plans for confederation and treaties were also subject to the July 1 timeline for presentation to Congress, but these plans were presented, agreed upon, and ratified by the states at a much later time — more info here.

FAQs about the Lee Resolution

Q. Did John Adams and Benjamin Franklin really persuade Richard Henry Lee to persuade the Virginia House of Burgesses to support independence (which is how it's portrayed in the musical)?

No, Lee didn't go to Virginia at all in May 1776. In fact, it was more the other way around: Lee (and the other Virginia delegates) were instructed by the House of Burgesses to propose what we now know as the Lee Resolution. In fact, Lee didn't even really write the resolution himself; some sources indicate that he had used the language from the Virginia Convention's instructions almost verbatim.

That said, Lee and Adams were two of the most vocal supporters of independence in the delegation. When Lee proposed the Resolution, it was indeed seconded by Adams.

Q. Why was the vote on the Lee Resolution delayed by three weeks?

A. The Lee Resolution had wide support in Congress, but a motion to delay was still passed, as few delegations had sufficient guidance from their home colonies as to how to vote. In addition, several delegations were under strict orders to vote against independence.

Q. On pg. 3-41, John Witherspoon arrives late and introduces himself the "new delegate" from New Jersey. What was the deal with New Jersey's vote?

A. The show takes a little bit of liberty with timelines (as Scene 3 is entirely set on June 7th), but the New Jersey Provincial Congress did appoint an entirely new delegation to the Continental Congress on June 22, 1776 in order to vote for the Lee Resolution (all three parts — not just for independence):

The entire original delegation was replaced: Richard Smith, John DeHart, and Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant resigned; Quaker John Cooper had never attended; leaving just one delegate, William Livingston.
The new delegation, instructed to vote in favor of the three-part Lee Resolution: Richard Stockton, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, John Witherspoon, and Abraham Clark.

Q. Also on pg. 3-41 — what about William Franklin? What does he have to do with the NJ vote?

William Franklin, Ben Franklin's acknowledged illegitimate son, was a Loyalist who opposed independence, and was arrested for treasonous activities on June 25. (More info in his Concordance entry.) Certainly his arrest did not incite NJ to become pro-independence. However, he is likely mentioned on pg 3-41 because the reason for his arrest is the same reason why NJ replaced its entire delegation: NJ already sought American independence.

Richard Henry Lee

John Witherspoon

William Franklin