who drafted the declaration of independence?

Answer 1

It's clearly Thomas Jefferson, though many who say that
misunderstand his actual role.

I'm not sure where the idea comes from that Adams actually drafted it. He certainly DID have some input, as did Franklin, including a number of edits. They may also have made many specific suggestions and even played a role in determining the basic content and structure the document should have.

(Paula Maier's book *American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence* includes an excellent discussion of the writing process, and the likely input of Adams, Franklin and the committee.)

But the person they charged with drafting the document was Jefferson (not surprising, not simply because he was a skilled writer and chair of the committee [the person most often given such tasks], but because he was a VIRGINIAN... and it was clear that to gain southern support a Virginian had to play a prominent role). In fact, we have drafts in his end, and with added notes (some clearly in Adams's hand).
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1776-1800/independence/doitj.htm
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Note that the IDEAS of the document and even the rough ways of expressing them were NOT original with Jefferson (or any other on the committee). No one even expected them to be. Rather he drew freely from other such documents recently drafted by individual states, and other prominent documents in English history (such as the English Bill of Rights of 1689, with a parallel "list of grievances" justifying Parliament's removing the king).

By the way, the committee had FIVE members, not three. (The other two were Roger Sherman [Connecticut] and Robert Livingston [New York].)

Answer 2

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 3

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 4

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 5

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 6

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 7

Oprichink is spot on. Jefferson got all the good press but Adams did most of the heavy lifting.

Jefferson later stabbed Adams in the back with slander and deceit when Adams was pres and Jefferson was VP. TJ was not a nice man.

Answer 8

Bryan Adams

Answer 9

there was actually a committee that included Jefferson, John Adams and another guy. Many believe that most of the ideas were Adams', but he was a high profile political figure during the time so the less controversial and less known jefferson was given credit, to attract more supporters.

Answer 10

Many had input in its contents, but Thomas Jefferson is credited with actually putting quill to parchment.