The 1770s decade ran from January 1, 1770, to December 31, 1779. Events and trends July 4, 1776: The United States Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Continental Congress. The document was drafted by a committee consisting of representatives John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Roger Sherman of Connecticut. 1779: Abol Fath Khan rose to the throne of Persia as the second Shah of the Zand dy… (More on 1770s)