Thomas Jefferson is largely credited as the author of the Declaration of Independence, a foundational document of the United States. But why did Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence? The answer lies in the historical context of the American Revolution and the need for the colonies to formally articulate their reasons for separating from British rule.
In June 1776, the Continental Congress, representing the thirteen American colonies, was grappling with the escalating conflict with Great Britain. Richard Henry Lee had proposed a resolution declaring the colonies independent. To support this momentous decision, a declaration was needed to explain to both domestic and international audiences the justifications for this separation. A committee of five, including Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston, was formed to draft this declaration. Within this committee, the task of drafting was primarily assigned to Jefferson.
Jefferson was chosen due to his recognized writing skills and his standing as a representative from Virginia, a prominent colony. He was tasked with articulating the philosophical and political reasons for independence. Drawing upon Enlightenment ideals and the principles of self-government, Jefferson crafted a powerful statement asserting the inherent rights of man, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and emphasizing the concept of popular sovereignty.
His initial draft, submitted on June 28th, underwent revisions by the committee and then by the Continental Congress itself. While Jefferson was reportedly unhappy with some alterations, notably the removal of a passage condemning the slave trade and modifications aimed at softening the tone towards Britain, the core message remained. On July 4th, 1776, Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration served multiple crucial purposes. It formally declared the thirteen colonies independent from Great Britain, justifying the revolution to the world. It rallied support for the Revolution within the colonies at a critical juncture and mobilized resistance against British forces. Furthermore, it articulated enduring principles of self-government and individual rights that have resonated globally for centuries, establishing a model for similar declarations worldwide. Therefore, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence as a crucial act to formally declare and justify the American colonies’ separation from British rule, embedding within it principles that continue to shape modern concepts of liberty and democracy.
Further Sources
1. Thomas Jefferson to John Randolph, August 25, 1775. Transcription available at Founders Online.
2. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, ed. Worthington C. Ford et al. (Washington, D.C., 1904-37), 5:425.
3. Thomas Jefferson to Henry Lee, May 8, 1825.Transcription available at Founders Online.
4. Ibid.
5. Enclosure with Jefferson to Robert Walsh, December 4, 1818, in Ford 10:120n.
