Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Arkansas

Re: declaration of independence

It was actually written by committee, though that method generally doesn't work nearly so well. The committee's five members were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson wrote the first draft, then incorporated some changes proposed by Adams and Franklin. Sherman and Livingston seem to have contributed nothing and simply approved of the version presented to them. (Livingston must have had some reservations, though, since he never signed the Declaration.)

When the committee was finished the Declaration was reviewed by the Continental Congress, which voted to make several changes. Jefferson then re-wrote it with those changes incorporated. While a portion of the content thus came from others, the writing style is his alone.

And in case you were wondering, the handwriting on the actual parchment which was eventually signed was not Jefferson's. The document had been prepared by a professional engrosser to ensure that it was neat and legible.