Thomas Jefferson largely wrote the Declaration of Independence, the central document commemorated by America250.
Congress appointed the Committee of Five on June 11, 1776, to prepare a declaration. The committee included Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. The group decided that Jefferson would produce the first draft.
Jefferson wrote most of the draft between June 11 and June 28, 1776, while staying in Philadelphia. Adams and Franklin reviewed it, and the full Congress later edited the text. Congress approved the final wording on July 4, 1776.
Jefferson was the principal writer, but the Declaration was not a solo document. Other committee members suggested changes, and delegates in Congress removed or revised substantial passages. The document’s authorship is therefore commonly credited to Jefferson while recognizing the contributions of the committee and Congress.