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Show Declaration Authorship Is Given to Jefferson "plIE common understanding Is that Jefferson wrote the Declaration Dec-laration of Independence. Richard Rich-ard Lee had been a steadfast advocate advo-cate of Independence for more than 10 years prior to the Declaration, and in his speeches and writings haa prepared most of the reasons given In the Declaration, observes a writer In the Indianapolis News. He was sent to the congress Instructed for Independence, and on June 7, 1776, wrote and Introduced the resolution reso-lution declaring independence. He ; wps made chairman of the commit-j commit-j tee to draft the Declaration. Con-I Con-I gress marked time for three weeks while some delegates were awaiting I Instructions, and during that time I Lee was called home by the Illness of his wife. The chairmanship was j turned over to Jefferson, who - led I the eomm'Uee In drafting the Dec-i Dec-i laratlon. Owing to Lee's part In the prelimlfurles, some authorities credit him ith the drafting, while i hers relieve that it really expressed ex-pressed Jefferson's views. |