The Declaration of Independence In June of 1776 a man by the name of Thomas Jefferson drafted a document to alleviate our great nation from the oppression of Great Britain. At the age of 33 Jefferson was one of the youngest members of the Second Continental Congress, but still he held a great responsibility, to break the bonds between a small and weak group of 13 colonies from the largest and strongest empire of that time. Jefferson was from the southern colony of Virginia, he was well educated as both a student and gentleman. At age 17 he entered the College of William and Marry, where he continued his studies of math, science and