Who is credited with writing the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson is credited with writing the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4, 1776. This foundational document articulated the American colonies' reasons for declaring independence from British rule and outlined the principles of individual liberty and government by consent of the governed. Jefferson’s eloquent writing and philosophical influences, particularly from Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, played a crucial role in shaping the ideas expressed in the Declaration.

While George Washington was the commander of the Continental Army and later became the first President of the United States, he did not have a direct hand in drafting the Declaration. Benjamin Franklin was certainly a significant figure during the American Revolution and contributed to discussions surrounding independence, but he was not the principal author of the document. John Adams, although a key advocate for independence and a member of the committee that commissioned the draft, also did not write the Declaration himself. Jefferson's clear articulation of the colonies' grievances and aspirations in the Declaration has made him most closely associated with this pivotal moment in American history.