The group that worked together to write the Declaration of Independence was called the Committee of Five. This committee was appointed by the Second Continental Congress on June 11, 1776, and consisted of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Among them, Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft due to his writing ability and popularity. The draft was then edited by the other committee members and later by the whole Congress before it was adopted on July 4, 1776. Fifty-six members of Congress eventually signed the final document.