Question: who came up with the declaration of independence

title: United States Declaration of Independence
text: I think the authors of that notable instrument intended to include all men , but they did not mean to declare all men equal in all respects . They did not mean to say all men were equal in color , size , intellect , moral development , or social capacity . They defined with tolerable distinctness in what they did consider all men created equal -- equal in `` certain inalienable rights , among which are life , liberty , and the pursuit of happiness . '' This they said , and this they meant . They did not mean to assert the obvious untruth that all were then actually enjoying that equality , or yet that they were about to confer it immediately upon them . In fact , they had no power to confer such a boon . They meant simply to declare the right , so that the enforcement of it might follow as fast as circumstances should permit . They meant to set up a standard maxim for free society which should be familiar to all , constantly looked to , constantly labored for , and even , though never perfectly attained , constantly approximated , and thereby constantly spreading and deepening its influence , and augmenting the happiness and value of life to all people , of all colors , everywhere .