Franklin was so appalled by British atrocities and exhausted of their rule that he planned the first articles of confederation and drafted a declaration of independence to be issued by none other than Gen. George Washington. So strong was the language of the draft that Thomas Jefferson wrote, while some members of Congress like himself "approved highly of it," others would be "revolted at it." Jefferson explained in his private commentary that "proposing it to congress as the subject for any vote whatever would startle many members."