Who is credited with writing the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independence is predominantly credited to Thomas Jefferson, who was the principal author of the document. Jefferson was chosen to draft the Declaration because of his eloquent writing style and his ability to articulate the colonies' grievances against Great Britain in a compelling manner. The Declaration, adopted on July 4, 1776, served as a formal statement of the colonies' intention to separate from British rule and outlined the philosophical justification for independence, particularly emphasizing ideals such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

While key figures like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams played significant roles in the American Revolution and had important contributions to the founding of the nation, none were responsible for drafting this central document of American history. Adams, for instance, was instrumental in promoting the independence movement and supporting Jefferson’s work but did not write the Declaration himself. Franklin contributed as a member of the committee and offered revisions, but again, the primary authorship rests squarely with Jefferson.