Who is credited with writing the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on July 4, 1776, is primarily credited to Thomas Jefferson, who served as the principal author of the document. Jefferson was chosen for this task due to his eloquent writing style and strong advocacy for individual rights and liberty, central themes of the Declaration. His draft articulated the colonies' grievances against King George III and emphasized the Enlightenment ideas of natural rights and the importance of government being based on the consent of the governed.

While other founding fathers, such as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, played significant roles in the drafting process and provided input and revisions, it was Jefferson's words and vision that ultimately shaped the document into what became a foundational text for American democracy. George Washington, although an important figure in the Revolution and later the first President, was not involved in writing the Declaration.