Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, whose 250th anniversary is celebrated in 2026.
Jefferson drafted the document in June 1776 after the Continental Congress appointed a five-member drafting committee. The committee also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Congress then debated, edited, and approved the draft rather than accepting it unchanged.
Jefferson’s text explains why the colonies sought separation from Great Britain and presents arguments about natural rights and government. The declaration lists grievances against King George III and concludes that the colonies were free and independent states.
A common misunderstanding is that Jefferson wrote every word without assistance or revision. He produced the principal draft, but other committee members and Congress made changes. Franklin and Adams also reviewed the draft before Congress considered its final wording.