Jefferson was appointed to the Committee of Five, tasked with drafting a declaration explaining the reasons for the colonies' decision to declare independence. The other members were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Jefferson was chosen to write the first draft.

Jefferson worked on the draft of the Declaration of Independence, drawing on Enlightenment philosophy, previous colonial declarations of rights, and his own political ideas. He consulted with Adams and Franklin, who made minor revisions. The document eloquently articulated the principles of natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the right to revolution.

The Continental Congress debated and revised Jefferson's draft. Significant changes were made, including the removal of a clause condemning the slave trade. Despite his disappointment with some of the alterations, Jefferson recognized the importance of achieving unanimous support for the declaration.

The Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. The declaration became a foundational document of American ideals and a powerful symbol of the pursuit of liberty and self-government. Jefferson's role as its primary author cemented his place in American history.