Who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence?

The principal author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson. He was tasked with drafting the document in June 1776, as part of a committee appointed by the Second Continental Congress. Jefferson's eloquent writing captured the philosophical foundations of the American colonies' desire for independence from British rule, drawing on Enlightenment ideals about government, natural rights, and the right to self-determination. The Declaration eloquently articulates grievances against King George III and asserts the colonies' right to be free and independent states, making Jefferson's role central to this momentous document in American history.

While James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were all significant figures in the founding of the United States, their contributions came in different contexts and documents, such as the Federalist Papers or the Constitution, rather than in the authorship of the Declaration itself.