Thomas Jefferson Wrote the Declaration of Independence

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson, a 33-year-old delegate from Virginia, drafted the Declaration of Independence in June 1776. The Continental Congress appointed a committee to write the Declaration, and that committee chose Jefferson to write the first draft. Congress then edited Jefferson’s draft before adopting it on July 4, 1776. The Declaration announced the 13 American colonies’ separation from Britain and explained why independence was necessary.

For the citizenship test, you need to know that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Understanding Jefferson’s role and the Declaration’s content helps explain America’s founding principles.

The Essential Facts

For the citizenship test, remember: Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Key facts about the Declaration:

Adopted: July 4, 1776 (celebrated as Independence Day)
Purpose: Announced independence from Britain and explained why
Signed: Most signatures added August 2, 1776
Author: Thomas Jefferson drafted it, with edits by Congress
Committee: Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston
Key Principles: All people are created equal with unalienable rights including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

The Declaration became one of history’s most important documents, inspiring democratic movements worldwide.

Who Was Thomas Jefferson?

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was one of America’s most influential founders:

Early Life:
Born in Virginia to a wealthy plantation family. Educated at William & Mary College. Became a lawyer and plantation owner (who enslaved people—a contradiction with his words about equality).

Political Career:

• Virginia House of Burgesses (colonial legislature)
• Continental Congress delegate (1775-1776)
• Virginia Governor (1779-1781)
• U.S. Minister to France (1785-1789)
• First Secretary of State (1790-1793) under Washington
• Vice President (1797-1801) under John Adams
• Third President (1801-1809)

Accomplishments:

• Wrote the Declaration of Independence
• Founded University of Virginia
• Secured Louisiana Purchase (1803), doubling U.S. territory
• Promoted religious freedom and separation of church and state
• Advocated for public education

Contradictions:
Jefferson wrote “all men are created equal” while enslaving over 600 people during his lifetime. He opposed slavery theoretically but benefited from it personally. This contradiction reflects broader American contradictions about freedom and slavery.

Why Jefferson Was Chosen to Write the Declaration

The Second Continental Congress appointed a committee in June 1776 to draft a declaration of independence:

The Committee:

• Thomas Jefferson (Virginia)
• John Adams (Massachusetts)
• Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania)
• Roger Sherman (Connecticut)
• Robert Livingston (New York)

Why Jefferson?
The committee chose Jefferson to write the first draft because:

Writing Ability: Jefferson was known as an excellent writer. His 1774 pamphlet “A Summary View of the Rights of British America” demonstrated his skill expressing political ideas eloquently.

Virginia’s Importance: Virginia was the largest and wealthiest colony. Having a Virginian write the Declaration emphasized southern support for independence.

Moderation: Jefferson was less controversial than some delegates. His draft would face less opposition than one from a more radical figure.

Adams’s Recommendation: John Adams, who could have written it, recommended Jefferson. Adams later explained he was “obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular” while Jefferson was well-liked. Adams also recognized Jefferson’s superior writing skill.

Jefferson spent about two weeks in June 1776 writing the Declaration. He worked in a rented room in Philadelphia, where Congress met.

What Jefferson Wrote

Jefferson’s draft had three main parts:

Preamble (Introduction):
Explains general principles of government:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

These famous words assert that:

• All people are created equal
• People have natural rights that cannot be taken away
• Rights include life, liberty, and pursuing happiness
• Government exists to protect these rights
• Government derives power from consent of the governed

If government violates these rights, people can alter or abolish it.

List of Grievances:
Jefferson listed 27 specific complaints against King George III:

• Taxation without representation
• Dissolving colonial legislatures
• Quartering troops in homes
• Denying trial by jury
• Cutting off trade
• Many other violations of colonial rights

This section explained why independence was justified—Britain violated colonists’ rights so severely that separation became necessary.

Declaration of Independence:
The conclusion formally declares independence:

“We, therefore…solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown.”

The colonies were now independent states, free to make war, peace, alliances, and trade.

Congress Edits Jefferson’s Draft

Jefferson submitted his draft to the committee, which made minor changes. Then Congress debated it:

Major Deletion:
Congress removed Jefferson’s paragraph condemning slavery and the slave trade. Southern delegates, whose economies depended on slavery, objected. Some Northern delegates also participated in the slave trade. Congress deleted the entire passage.

Jefferson was upset about this deletion, though he himself enslaved people. This showed the founding generation’s inability to resolve the slavery question—a failure that would lead to Civil War 85 years later.

Other Changes:
Congress made about 80 changes total, removing about 25% of Jefferson’s original text. Some changes strengthened the language. Some removed harsh attacks on the British people (as opposed to King George).

Jefferson was annoyed by these edits but accepted them. Benjamin Franklin consoled him with stories of editors changing his own work.

Final Version:
On July 4, 1776, Congress approved the final Declaration of Independence. This date became Independence Day, America’s birthday.

The Declaration’s Ideas

The Declaration’s ideas were revolutionary:

Natural Rights:
Jefferson drew on Enlightenment philosophy, especially John Locke’s ideas about natural rights. People have rights by nature of being human, not granted by government. Government must protect these rights.

Popular Sovereignty:
Government power comes from “consent of the governed”—the people. This contradicted monarchy, where power came from God or hereditary right.

Right of Revolution:
If government violates people’s rights, they can change or abolish it. This justified rebellion against Britain and established the principle that unjust government may be overthrown.

Equality:
“All men are created equal” was radical for 1776. European societies had rigid class hierarchies and hereditary aristocracies. America rejected titles and aristocracy, embracing equality (though limited to white men initially).

Pursuit of Happiness:
Jefferson changed Locke’s trinity of “life, liberty, and property” to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This suggested broader human flourishing, not just property ownership, as a right.

These ideas influenced democratic movements worldwide. The French Revolution, Latin American independence, and numerous other movements drew inspiration from the Declaration.

Signing the Declaration

The famous signing happened mostly on August 2, 1776:

July 4, 1776:
Congress approved the Declaration. John Hancock (Congress president) and Charles Thomson (secretary) signed the first printed copies.

August 2, 1776:
Most of the 56 signers signed an engrossed (formal handwritten) copy. Some signed later.

The Signers:
56 delegates from the 13 colonies signed, representing all 13. They knew signing was dangerous—if Britain won the war, they could be executed for treason.

Famous Signatures:

• John Hancock signed first with a large, bold signature—so large it became proverbial (“put your John Hancock here”)
• Benjamin Franklin quipped: “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately”

Price of Signing:
Signers risked everything. Some lost property to British forces. Some were captured and imprisoned. Most suffered financially. They signed knowing the danger, showing their commitment to independence.

The Declaration’s Impact

The Declaration’s immediate and long-term impacts were profound:

Immediate Effects:

• Unified colonies around independence
• Justified war to foreign powers (France, Spain) whose support colonists sought
• Rallied colonists to the Revolutionary cause
• Made reconciliation with Britain impossible

American Impact:

• Became founding document alongside Constitution
• Established principles guiding American government
• Inspired abolitionists arguing slavery violated Declaration’s equality principle
• Referenced in civil rights struggles

Global Impact:

• Inspired French Revolution (1789)
• Influenced Latin American independence movements (early 1800s)
• Became model for independence declarations worldwide
• Promoted human rights and democratic government globally

Continuing Relevance:
The Declaration’s principles—equality, unalienable rights, government by consent—remain foundational to American identity. Political debates often invoke Declaration ideals. It continues shaping how Americans understand their nation and values.

The Declaration’s Limitations

Despite its inspiring words, the Declaration had serious limitations:

“All Men Are Created Equal”:
This did not include:

• Enslaved people (about 20% of colonial population)
• Women (no political rights)
• Native Americans (not considered part of political community)
• Even free Black people (limited rights)

Jefferson’s “all men” meant white male property owners primarily.

Slavery:
Jefferson wrote about equality while enslaving people. The Declaration’s failure to condemn slavery contradicted its principles. This contradiction would plague America for decades until Civil War and even beyond.

Women:
The Declaration ignored women entirely. Abigail Adams famously told her husband John to “remember the ladies,” but the Declaration and subsequent Constitution did not grant women political rights.

Property Requirements:
Even among white men, voting was limited to property owners in most states. Full democracy took generations to achieve.

Native Americans:
The Declaration called Native Americans “merciless Indian Savages” in the grievances section. It did not recognize their rights or humanity equally.

These limitations show the gap between America’s ideals and reality. The history of American democracy is largely about expanding “all men are created equal” to actually include all people.

Jefferson’s Later Life

After writing the Declaration, Jefferson had a distinguished career:

Virginia Governor: Served during Revolutionary War’s difficult years
Minister to France: Represented America in France, witnessing early French Revolution
Secretary of State: Served under Washington, often clashed with Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton
Vice President: Served under John Adams despite political opposition
President: Served two terms (1801-1809), major achievements included Louisiana Purchase

Retirement:
Jefferson retired to Monticello, his Virginia estate. He founded University of Virginia, designed its buildings, and served as its first rector.

Death:
Jefferson died on July 4, 1826—exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence. John Adams died the same day. Adams’s last words were reportedly “Thomas Jefferson survives,” not knowing Jefferson had died hours earlier.

This remarkable coincidence added to the Declaration’s mystique and both men’s legacies.

Why Jefferson and the Declaration Matter

Understanding Jefferson and the Declaration matters because:

Founding Principles:
The Declaration articulated principles still fundamental to American identity: equality, natural rights, government by consent, right to alter unjust government.

Aspirational Ideals:
Even when America fails to live up to Declaration ideals, those ideals remain standards to measure against. Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and others invoked the Declaration when demanding America fulfill its promises.

Global Influence:
The Declaration inspired democratic movements worldwide. Its ideas about human rights and popular sovereignty influenced international human rights documents.

Historical Honesty:
Understanding Jefferson’s contradictions—writing about equality while enslaving people—helps understand America’s contradictions. The gap between ideals and reality is part of American history that must be acknowledged.

Continuing Relevance:
The Declaration’s principles still shape political debates. Questions about equality, rights, and government legitimacy remain central to American politics.

Connections That Matter

Understanding Jefferson and the Declaration connects to the Revolutionary War. The Declaration justified the war, explaining why independence was necessary and rallying support for the cause.

The Declaration relates to the Constitution. While the Constitution is America’s governing document, the Declaration is its philosophical foundation. Constitutional principles of popular sovereignty and limited government flow from Declaration ideals.

Jefferson also connects to American political development. His Democratic-Republican Party (opposing Federalists) shaped early American politics. His presidency expanded federal power through Louisiana Purchase while promoting limited government philosophy.

For more on the Declaration, see our article on why colonists fought Britain in the uscis-questions category. To understand Jefferson’s political thought, read about his presidency and political philosophy. To learn about other founders, explore articles on Washington, Adams, Franklin, and Madison.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions

Did Jefferson write the Declaration alone?
He wrote the first draft alone, but a committee reviewed it, and Congress made extensive edits. The final version was a collaborative product, though Jefferson wrote most of it.

What did Jefferson think of Congress’s edits?
He was annoyed, especially about removing his anti-slavery paragraph. But he accepted the changes as necessary for achieving consensus.

Why is July 4th Independence Day?
That’s when Congress approved the Declaration. The signing happened mostly on August 2, and independence was actually voted for on July 2. But July 4 became the symbolic date.

Where is the original Declaration?
The engrossed copy signed on August 2, 1776, is displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. It’s badly faded from age and light exposure.

How many people signed the Declaration?
56 delegates from all 13 colonies. They represented millions of colonists, signing on behalf of their states.

Did signing the Declaration risk death?
Yes. Signing was treason against Britain. If Britain had won the war, signers could have been executed. Benjamin Franklin’s joke about hanging together or separately reflected this real danger.

Who signed first?
John Hancock, as president of Congress. His large signature made his name synonymous with signatures.

Did women have any role in independence?
Many women supported independence and made essential contributions (fundraising, nursing, maintaining farms and businesses while men fought). But they were excluded from political process and Declaration.

What happened to Jefferson’s anti-slavery paragraph?
Congress deleted it to maintain unity. Southern delegates whose economies depended on slavery objected. Some Northern delegates who participated in slave trade also objected.

What should I memorize for the citizenship test?
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Know that it was adopted July 4, 1776, and announced independence from Britain. Know the famous phrase “all men are created equal” with unalienable rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This is sufficient for the test.