Who is recognized as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson is recognized as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence due to his role in drafting this pivotal document that announced the American colonies' separation from British rule. In June 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee to prepare a declaration. Jefferson was selected to write the initial draft, and he articulated the core ideas of individual rights and government by consent of the governed. His eloquent prose and philosophical underpinnings helped shape the document, making it a foundational text for American democracy. The Declaration of Independence not only outlined colonists' grievances against King George III but also established principles such as equality and the pursuit of happiness, which remain central to American values.