Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independence was primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, who was tasked with drafting the document as part of a committee appointed by the Second Continental Congress in June 1776. Jefferson's eloquent writing and compelling arguments for independence from British rule were instrumental in articulating the colonies' desire for self-governance and the principles of individual rights and liberty.

His document famously opens with the assertion that all men are created equal and have unalienable rights, which emphasizes the philosophical underpinnings of the need for independence. While other figures, like John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, played significant roles in the American Revolution and contributed to discussions surrounding independence, it was Jefferson's words that came to symbolize the revolutionary spirit of the time. George Washington, on the other hand, was commanding the Continental Army and was not involved in drafting political documents during this period. Thus, Jefferson's authorship makes him the correct answer.