Who authored the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independence was primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson. He was selected by the Continental Congress to draft the document that would formally announce the American colonies' separation from British rule. Jefferson's eloquent writing and philosophical ideas, which emphasized individual rights and government by consent of the governed, became foundational to American democracy.

While other figures mentioned—such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams—played vital roles in the American Revolution and contributed to the development of the new nation, it was Jefferson who crafted the actual text of the Declaration. Washington served as the commander of the Continental Army and later became the first President, Franklin was instrumental in securing French support for the revolution, and Adams was a strong advocate for independence and helped push the Congress toward declaring it, but they did not write the document themselves. Thus, Jefferson's authorship is crucial in understanding the origins of the Declaration of Independence.