The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson.

Drafted in 1776, Jefferson wrote the document to articulate the colonies' reasons for seeking independence from British rule. His eloquent language and philosophical ideas about natural rights and government by consent resonated deeply and laid the foundation for American democracy. While other founding fathers, including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, contributed to the document's final form, Jefferson's original draft captured the essence of the revolutionary spirit and the aspirations for freedom and equality.