Thomas Jefferson was the principal drafter of the Declaration of Independence, central to the America250 commemoration.
Jefferson wrote the initial draft in June 1776 while serving on the Committee of Five appointed by the Continental Congress. The committee also included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston.
Congress revised Jefferson’s draft before adopting the Declaration on July 4, 1776. The final text expressed the colonies’ claim to independence and listed grievances against King George III. Its language about equality and inherent rights later became one of the most influential statements in American political history.
Jefferson was the principal author, but the document was not a solo work. Adams and Franklin reviewed the draft, Congress edited it, and the delegates collectively adopted it. That distinction explains why “principal drafter” is more precise than simply calling Jefferson the only author.