Editing 1776 (musical) (section)

== Synopsis ==
''NOTE: The show can be performed in one or two acts.''

=== Act I ===
On May 8, 1776, the [[Second Continental Congress]], convening in Philadelphia at present-day [[Independence Hall]], proceeds with its business. [[John Adams]], the widely disliked delegate from Massachusetts, is frustrated because Congress will not even debate his proposals on independence. The other delegates, preoccupied with the rising heat, implore him to "Sit Down, John." Adams denounces the do-nothing Congress ("Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve"), then reads the latest missive to his loving wife [[Abigail Adams|Abigail]], who speaks to him in his imagination ("Till Then"). Later, Adams meets delegate [[Benjamin Franklin]], who suggests that, because Adams is unpopular, he should let another delegate propose a resolution on independence. [[Richard Henry Lee]] of Virginia enters, having been summoned by Franklin; Franklin persuades Lee to ask the [[Virginia House of Burgesses]] to authorize a pro-independence resolution ("The Lees of Old Virginia").

Weeks later, new delegate Dr. [[Lyman Hall]] of Georgia arrives and is introduced to many important members of Congress, including [[Andrew McNair (bellringer)|Andrew McNair]], the custodian; [[Stephen Hopkins (politician)|Stephen Hopkins]] of Rhode Island; [[Edward Rutledge]] of South Carolina; and [[Caesar Rodney]] of Delaware, among others. As Congress is assembled, [[John Hancock]], the president of Congress, notes that the entire New Jersey delegation has been absent for quite some time. A gloomy dispatch from [[George Washington]], commander of the Continental Army, arrives by courier and is read aloud by [[Charles Thomson]], the Congressional Secretary. Comically, the proceedings are interrupted when a fire wagon passes by. Shortly thereafter,  Richard Henry Lee returns, bearing [[Lee Resolution|a resolution for independence]]. Elated, Adams seconds the motion to open debate on the resolution.

[[John Dickinson]] of Pennsylvania, a conservative and royal apologist, immediately moves to table the debate. The vote is close, but debate is ultimately approved, prompting Dickinson to denounce the desire for independence as an overreaction to petty squabbles with Great Britain. The debate becomes more heated and personal, sparking a physical fight between Dickinson and Adams and causing Caesar Rodney (who is ailing from cancer) to collapse. Rodney is taken back to Delaware, leaving [[George Read (American politician, born 1733)|George Read]] as their delegation's sole vote. Since Read is a conservative, South Carolina's Edward Rutledge moves to quickly end the debate and vote on independence, knowing it is likely to fail. At this moment, the new delegation from New Jersey arrives, with leader the Reverend [[John Witherspoon]] announcing he has explicit orders to vote ''for'' independence. Adams, now seeing a path to victory, pushes to proceed with the vote, since ties are broken by Hancock and Adams believes Hancock is a firm believer in independence.

Dickinson suddenly makes another motion: that any vote in favor of independence must be unanimous. The vote, predictably, ends in a tie, but Hancock unexpectedly votes in favor of unanimity, explaining that if the colonies are not unanimous in their opinion, loyalist colonies will be turned against pro-independence colonies, spawning a civil war.

Looking for a way to save the independence movement, Adams moves to postpone the vote to allow for the creation of a formal Declaration of Independence that can be used in the courts of Europe to rally favor and assistance to the cause of American independence (this will also grant Adams time to persuade the anti-independence delegates to his side). Again, the vote ties; this time, Hancock votes with Adams, as many in Congress would like to have a break. Before they adjourn, John Hancock appoints a [[Committee of Five|committee]] of Adams, Franklin, [[Roger Sherman]] of Connecticut, [[Robert R. Livingston (chancellor)|Robert Livingston]] of New York, and [[Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson]] (who is on the point of going home to see his wife, whom he has not seen in six months) to draft the declaration. The five argue about who should write the declaration ("But, Mr. Adams"); the choice falls on a reluctant Jefferson, since Adams is "obnoxious and disliked", Franklin won't write politics, Sherman has no writing ability and Livingston is headed home to celebrate the birth of his new son.

A week later, Adams and Franklin visit Jefferson, who has spent the week moping; however, Adams has sent for Jefferson's beloved wife [[Martha Jefferson|Martha]] on the grounds that "the sooner [Jefferson's] problem was solved, the sooner [theirs] would." She enters, and Adams and Franklin leave the young lovers in peace.  Adams, alone, again exchanges letters with his wife Abigail ("Yours, Yours, Yours"). The next morning, Franklin and Adams return and formally introduce themselves to Martha, asking her how the deeply intellectual and usually uncommunicative Jefferson wooed her ("He Plays the Violin"). Jefferson enters and silently reclaims his wife, requesting the other two men (by means of a note) to "kindly go away."

=== Act II ===
In June, with the Congress in what looks like a state of total [[lethargy]], another gloomy dispatch from General Washington causes Adams to challenge [[Samuel Chase]] of Maryland to go with him and Franklin to the Army camp in [[New Brunswick, New Jersey]], to check on conditions there. The other liberals also leave the chamber; with only the conservatives left, John Dickinson leads his congressional allies in a defense of their wealth, status and politics ("Cool, Cool Considerate Men"). They depart, leaving Andrew McNair (the custodian), the courier, and a workman in the chamber. The courier describes how his two closest friends were killed on the same day at [[Battles of Lexington and Concord|Lexington]] ("Momma Look Sharp").

Some days later, Jefferson is outside the chamber while [[Charles Thomson|Mr. Thomson]] reads the declaration to the Congress. Adams and Franklin arrive, delighted: an exhibition of shooting by the Continental Army has convinced Chase, and Maryland will vote in favor of independence. They congratulate Jefferson on his work, and Franklin compares the creation of this new country to the hatching of a bird ("The Egg"). They debate which bird would best represent America: Franklin argues for the turkey and Jefferson suggests the dove, but Adams insists on the eagle. The others resign themselves to that choice.

On June 28, Hancock asks if there are any alterations to be offered to the Declaration of Independence. Many delegates voice suggestions. Edward Rutledge of South Carolina objects in particular to a clause condemning the slave trade. He accuses the northern colonies of hypocrisy, as they also prosper from slavery through the [[Atlantic Slave Trade|Triangle Trade]] ("Molasses to Rum"). Rutledge leads a walk-out with the delegates from both Carolinas and Georgia. The resolve of the other delegates is broken, and most of them also leave. Adams' faith in himself is shaken after a quarrel with Franklin, who understands that the slavery clause is "a luxury [they] can't afford" and that Adams seems to have forgotten, after being caught up in the slavery debate, that "the issue here is independence!" Adams calls on Abigail in his mind to help him, and she reminds him of his commitment to the cause. Bolstered by her (and the arrival of a delivery of kegs of [[saltpeter]] she had previously promised him), Adams recovers his energy and sends Franklin to try and win the support of Pennsylvania's [[James Wilson (Founding Father)|James Wilson]] and Jefferson to talk to Rutledge. Re-reading a dispatch from Washington, Adams, now alone, wonders "Is Anybody There?" He is answered by Dr. Hall, the Georgia delegate, who changes Georgia's vote on the tally board from "Nay" to "Yea".

It is now July 2. Hancock calls for the vote on the [[Lee Resolution]]. At this moment, Rodney and [[Thomas McKean]] return to Congress to assure that Delaware will vote in favor of independence. Thomson calls on each delegation. Although Pennsylvania passes on their first call, the rest of the [[New England]] and [[Mid-Atlantic (United States)|Mid-Atlantic]] colonies vote in favor of independence except for New York, who abstains. When South Carolina is called, Rutledge again insists that the slavery clause be removed in exchange for the southern colonies voting in favor; Franklin argues they must first win independence before there is any hope of abolishing slavery, and Jefferson himself strikes out the passage. North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia all vote "yea". On Pennsylvania's second call, Dickinson is about to announce that his colony votes "nay" when Franklin requests that the delegation be polled. Franklin votes "yea" and Dickinson votes "nay", leaving the decisive vote in the hands of Wilson. Wilson has previously subordinated himself to Dickinson; now, suddenly fearing that if he sides with Dickinson now he would be forever remembered as the man who prevented American independence, he changes his vote and votes for independence. With twelve colonies voting in favor of independence, none against and one colony abstaining, the resolution is unanimously adopted.

Hancock proposes that no man be allowed to sit in Congress without signing the Declaration. Dickinson announces that he cannot in good conscience sign it, and still hopes for reconciliation with England; however, he resolves to join the army to fight for and defend the new nation. Adams leads the Congress in a salute to Dickinson as he leaves the chamber.

[[File:Congress voting independence.jpg|thumb|In the book of the musical, Peter Stone referred to [[Congress Voting Independence|this famous painting]] by [[Robert Edge Pine]] and [[Edward Savage (artist)|Edward Savage]] as a reference for how the actors should pose in the final moment of the play.]]

On July 4, McNair rings the [[Liberty Bell]] in the background as Thomson calls each delegate to sign the Declaration. The delegates freeze in position as the Liberty Bell rings to a fevered pitch.