Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin were pivotal in convincing the Second Continental Congress to support the Declaration of Independence, along with the influence of Thomas Paine's Common Sense.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin provided the powerful arguments that convinced the Second Continental Congress to vote unanimously in favor of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson, known for drafting the document, combined the Enlightenment principles of sovereignty and natural rights, highlighting societal contract theories by philosophers like John Locke. Adams and Franklin also contributed to the advocacy for independence, with Adams playing a key role in the debate and Franklin bringing his experience and esteem to the cause. The change in sentiment towards independence within the Congress was also influenced by Thomas Paine's Common Sense, which provided clear and accessible arguments for the separation from Britain.