1776

Philadelphia, believing that "the sooner his problem is solved, the sooner our problem

will be solved. A split Delaware vote

goes back in favor of Adams when a dying Caesar Rodney is brought to Philadelphia

from his death bed.

Lee returns from Virgina with the proposal, opening up the issue to debate.

The Members of Congress assigned to the Declaration Committee (Franklin,

Adams, Roger Sherman of CT, and Robert Livingston of NY) avoid writing the

document, and elect the well written Thomas Jefferson. "

Dickinson, meanwhile, tries to keep the opposition to Adams in tact while,

General George Washinton's courierrepeatedly brings discouraging dispatches from the

battlefront.

Adams argues with Pennsylvania’s John Dickinson, who is strongly opposed to

independence.

Pennsylvania becomes the last step for Adams. But when the final vote takes place,

and it is Wilson's vote that will make Independence either live or die, Wilson’s vote with

Franklin in order to "remain one of many" rather than "be remembered as the man who

prevented American Independence". Adams and Franklin suggest the

writing of a "declaration", to spell out "their goals and aims" and "reasons for separation". Jefferson, however, is unable to

concentrate starting the document because he is thinking for the young bride he left

behind in Virginia 6 months earlier. While Franklin is clearly on his

side, Dickinson is against him. In a major compromise, Jefferson resentfuly agrees to

remove the slavery clause in order to win back the two Carolinas. The other Pennsylvania delegate, the (follow the crowd)

James Wilson, has long been on Dickinson’s side. After much battle, the proposal gets put up for vote, but not before

Dickinson insures that the vote must be unanimous.