Colonial representatives gather in Philadelphia with the aim of establishing a set of governmental rules for the burgeoning United States. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams charge Thomas Jefferson with the task of writing a statement announcing the new country's emancipation from British rule.

William Daniels
as John Adams

Howard Da Silva
as Dr. Benjamin Franklin

Ken Howard
as Thomas Jefferson

Blythe Danner
as Martha Jefferson

Donald Madden
as John Dickinson (PA)

John Cullum
as Edward Rutledge (SC)

David Ford
as Congressional President John Hancock (MA)

Ron Holgate
as Richard Henry Lee (VA)

Emory Bass
as James Wilson (PA)

Virginia Vestoff
as Abigail Adams