Franklin has the rare distinction of having signed all three of the major agreements that freed the colonies from British rule and founded the United States as an independent nation: the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the Constitution of the United States.
In 1776 the Continental Congress assigned Franklin to a commission tasked with writing a formal document to justify the decision of the colonies to cut political ties with Britain. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were among the key members of the committee. Jefferson was given the task of writing the first draft by the committee. While a talented writer, Franklin took a back seat in drafting the paper, blaming poor health for his lack of participation.
