A clip from HBO’s John Adams.
Thomas Jefferson is generally thought to be the author of the Declaration of Independence, but a committee of five men assisted with the writing of it. In this YouTube clip, actors re-enact how Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin contributed to the draft of the document. View the clip and answer the questions that follow.
Questions for completion:
1. What word(s) did Franklin suggest changing and why?
2. How would you describe the actor’s portrayal of Thomas Jefferson?
If you enjoyed this clip consider watching more of the seven-part miniseries. It is available at Amazon-Prime and in many local libraries on DVD. The film covers the founding of the United States and John Adams’s life from the Boston Massacre trials through his presidency.
Photo/Image: Jean Leon Gerome Ferris / Public domain