Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

The Declaration of Independence was primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, making this the correct answer. Jefferson, who was a member of the Continental Congress and later became the third President of the United States, was tasked with drafting this monumental document in 1776. His writing articulated the colonies' grievances against King George III and expressed the fundamental principles of individual liberty and government derived from the consent of the governed.

The significance of the Declaration lies in its assertion of natural rights and the idea that people have the right to change or abolish a government that does not serve their interests. Jefferson's eloquent prose captured these concepts, making the Declaration a crucial text in American history and the foundation of democratic ideals.

While Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams were influential figures in the founding of the United States, they did not write the Declaration of Independence. Franklin contributed to discussions and draft reviews, Washington provided military leadership, and Adams was a strong advocate for independence; however, it was Jefferson's words and ideas that were central to the Declaration itself.