Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The document was a statement declaring the thirteen American colonies' intention to be free and independent from British rule. Jefferson's eloquent prose articulated the colony's grievances and established the philosophical foundations for the new nation, including principles of liberty and equality. The Declaration remains a crucial historical document, symbolizing the commitment to democratic ideals and human rights that resonate in American culture and politics to this day.