answers.input_text: short
answers.span_text: Thomas Jefferson
questions: who wrote most of the declaration of independance
name: United States Declaration of Independence
contexts: United States Declaration of Independence 1823 facsimile of the engrossed copy Created June -- July 1776 Ratified July 4 , 1776 Location Engrossed copy : National Archives Rough draft : Library of Congress Author ( s ) Thomas Jefferson et al. ( engrosser : probably Timothy Matlack ) Signatories 56 delegates to the Continental Congress Purpose To announce and explain separation from Great Britain