The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America is a historical document written by Thomas Jefferson and other members of the Continental Congress in 1776. This masterpiece of political literature, ontology, and philosophy outlines the principles that underlie American democracy: independence, freedom, and the human right to happiness. The "Declaration of Independence" is recognized as one of the most important documents in world history, which determined the course of social development and became a symbol of the struggle for rights and freedoms.