Episode Details

Five men served on the Continental Congress’s Declaration Committee. We know three of them well: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. But who were the other two?

In this episode, we explore the lives and contributions of Robert R. Livingston of New York and Roger Sherman of Connecticut.

Historians Geoff Benton and Michael Morand join us as we uncover the stories of the other Committee members.

Clermont State Historic Site: Website

Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/447

EPISODE OUTLINE

00:00:00 Introduction

00:04:46 The Lee Resolution and the Committee of Five

00:05:26 Robert R. Livingston's Early Life

00:06:56 Colonial New York Politics

00:11:02 Livingston's Appointment to the Second Continental Congress

00:15:20 Why Livingston Chosen for Declaration Committee

00:18:44 Livingston's feud with John Adams

00:19:18 Livingston Misses the Vote for Independence

00:20:50 Livingston Becomes Chancellor of New York State

00:24:06 Livingston's Role in Steam Navigation

00:26:15 Clermont State Historic Site

00:32:35 Roger Sherman's Early Life

00:36:47 Sherman's Family and Life in New Haven

00:37:43 Sherman's Involvement in the Imperial Crisis

00:40:38 Sherman's Role in the Second Continental Congress

00:42:28 Why Sherman Chosen For Declaration Committee

00:43:42 Sherman's Role in Drafting the Declaration

00:46:16 The Connecticut Compromise, 1787

00:50:28 What Made Sherman Effective in Legislatures

00:53:47 1776 in Context

00:58:10 Conclusion

RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

🎧 Episode 141: A Declaration in Draft

🎧 Episode 193: Partisans: The Friendship and Rivalry of Adams & Jefferson

🎧 Episode 245: Celebrating the Fourth of July

🎧 Episode 277: Whose Fourth of July?

🎧 Episode 415: The Many Declarations of Independence

🎧 Episode 439: When the Declaration of Independence Was News

SUPPORT OUR WORK

🎁 Make a Donation to Ben Franklin’s World

REQUEST A TOPIC

📨 Topic Request Form

📫 liz@benfranklinsworld.com

WHEN YOU'RE READY

🗞️