South Carolina US Citizenship Practice Test

The Declaration of Independence was primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. Jefferson, who was a member of the Continental Congress at the time, was tasked with drafting the document that would formally declare the Thirteen Colonies' separation from British rule. His eloquent writing captured the colonists' grievances against King George III and articulated the principles of individual rights and government by consent, which have become foundational to American democracy.

The document is significant not just as a statement of independence but also as an expression of Enlightenment ideals, emphasizing liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. While figures like John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington played crucial roles in the American Revolution and subsequent founding of the country, it was Jefferson who was chosen to articulate the justifications for independence in this pivotal document.