Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson. He was chosen to draft the document because of his eloquent writing style and strong beliefs in individual rights and liberty. Jefferson's work encapsulated the colonies' grievances against the British Crown and articulated the philosophical underpinnings of the new nation, particularly the concepts of natural rights and government by consent of the governed.

Jefferson's influential language and ideas in the Declaration have had a lasting impact on American democracy and are often cited in discussions of freedom and equality. While other prominent figures, such as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, played significant roles in the debates and the adoption of the document, it was Jefferson who translated those ideas into the powerful prose that declared the colonies' independence from British rule.