Final answer:
The Committee of Five was a group of delegates from the Second Continental Congress who drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, consisting of influential figures like Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin. Their work is famously depicted by John Trumbull and has a lasting legacy on the fabric of American history.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term Committee of Five is historically significant and refers to a group of five men who were appointed by the Second Continental Congress on June 11, 1776. This committee was responsible for drafting the Declaration of Independence, a statement of the colonies' case for independence from British rule. Notable members of this committee included figures like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. These individuals played a pivotal role in the history of the United States by authoring a document that would announce and justify the colonies' break from Great Britain.
Renowned artist John Trumbull famously depicted these five committee members presenting their draft to the Continental Congress in a painting that now resides in the US Capitol Rotunda. This image is also featured on the back of the two-dollar bill, further emphasizing its symbolic significance. Despite the artistic representation, it was unlikely that all of the men were together in the same room at the same time; however, they each contributed to the debate, approval, and ultimate shaping of the Declaration of Independence.