Among those named to this committee is John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, who has been Congress' strongest voice against independence. The seeming contradiction is explained by Dickinson's insistence that a firm union of colonies is necessary before they can consider breaking free from Britain.
Dickinson will end up being the primary writer of the first draft of the Articles of Confederation--a draft that ends up being unsatisfactory to the states because it enlarges the power of the central government so much. The document will undergo months of rewriting before approval.
Other members of the drafting committee include Samuel Adams (Mass.), Edward Rutledge (S.C.), Robert R. Livingston (N.Y.), Thomas McKean (Del.), Stephen Hopkins (R.I.) and Roger Sherman (Conn.). New Jersey is left unrepresented for the time being since none of its members are in Philadelphia.