[Retain Mike]

The Continental Congress chose Thomas Jefferson, a Virginian, instead of John Adams to write the Declaration of Independence, because they wanted to solidify the southern states participation in the revolution.

Jefferson suffered through Congress remaking his work. His draft at 1704 words was 366 words longer than the final. The Congress added 253 words, and removed or rephrased 792 words, thereby transforming over 60% of his work. Among passages removed was a 168 word section complaining the mercantile system, imposed on the colonies by commercial charter, mandated the importation of slaves to the New World. His draft is on the internet. One congressman lamented with him that it was like seeing the goose after Christmas dinner.

[scrabblehack]

I had heard they wouldn’t let Franklin write it because they were afraid he would put a joke in it.