Who was the author of the Declaration of Independence?

The author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the document in 1776. His role as the principal author is significant because he articulated the Enlightenment ideals of individual liberty and government by consent, which became foundational principles of the new nation. Jefferson's philosophical perspective influenced the text's flow, including the famous preamble that asserts the rights to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

While George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams were all important figures in American history and played crucial roles during the Revolutionary War and in the founding of the United States, none of them authored the Declaration. Washington was the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, Franklin was a key diplomat and a member of the Second Continental Congress, and Adams was a strong advocate for independence as well as a member of the committee that oversaw the drafting of the Declaration alongside Jefferson. Their contributions to American independence were vital, but Jefferson's authorship of the Declaration is what distinctly positions him at the forefront of this monumental document in history.