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In the film, while General George Washington is conducting the struggle against the British on the battlefield, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia are having trouble gaining any traction on the question of American independence. Leading the independence faction is the abrasive John Adams of Massachusetts whose constant pushing of the issue has brought the congress to a standstill. John Dickinson of Pennsylvania leads the opposition that hopes for reconciliation with England. Doctor Benjamin Franklin (played by Howard Da Silva) suggests that another colony that supports independence should submit a proposal. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia is sent off to Williamsburg to get authorization to propose independence. Weeks later, Lee returns with the resolution, and finally debate on the question begins. After heated discussions, the question is called without a majority of positive votes present. In a move intended to defeat the resolution, Dickinson calls for a vote requiring unanimity for passage, which ends in a tie between the colonies and ultimately being decided in favor of unanimity by Hancock, arguing that any objecting colony would fight for England against independence. Stalling for time to rally support for the resolution, Adams and Franklin call again for a postponement, justifying their call by stating the need for a declaration describing their grievances. Once again tied and ultimately being decided by Hancock, the vote is successfully postponed until such a document can be written.
John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, appoints a committee that includes Adams, Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, who had been planning to return home to Virginia to see his wife, Martha. Adams sends for Martha so that the declaration can be prepared by the otherwise-distracted Jefferson. Both Adams and Franklin are quite taken with Martha. While trying to get the required unanimous majority for the vote on independence, Adams, Franklin and Samuel Chase of Maryland visit the colonial army encamped in New Brunswick, New Jersey, at the request of General Washington to help convince Maryland. Upon returning, the declaration is being read and then subsequently debated and amended. The Southern delegates, led by Edward Rutledge of South Carolina, walk out of Congress when the slavery clause is not removed. After removing that clause, 11 colonies are in favor, and New York continues to abstain.
The question is now up to the colony of Pennsylvania, whose delegation is polled at Franklin's request. Franklin votes for the declaration, then Dickinson against. The outcome is now in the hands of their fellow Pennsylvanian, Judge James Wilson. Wilson has always been following Dickinson's lead, but in this case, Wilson votes in favor of the declaration, securing its passage. Finally, with the Declaration of Independence ready to be signed, each colony (including New York) affixes their signature to the Declaration, establishing the United States on July 4, 1776.
Reviews for the musical were generally not good. For example, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it two stars and declared, "This is an insult to the real men who were Adams, Jefferson, Franklin and the rest. The performances trapped inside these roles, as you might expect, are fairly dreadful. There are good actors in the movie (especially William Daniels as Adams and Donald Madden as John Dickinson), but they're forced to strut and posture so much that you wonder if they ever scratched or spit or anything. I can hardly bear to remember the songs, much less discuss them. Perhaps I shouldn't. It is just too damn bad this movie didn't take advantage of its right to the pursuit of happiness."
The film was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Harry Stradling Jr. was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Following is one of the songs from the musical, featuring William Daniels as John Adams: