The influential document pivotal in the establishment of democracy in the early United States was the Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776. Authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it articulated the colonies' desire for freedom from British rule and laid the foundation for democratic ideals. The Declaration emphasized concepts such as natural rights and government by consent, advocating that the people have the right to alter or abolish any government that becomes destructive to these ends. It remains a cornerstone of American democracy and a symbol of the quest for liberty.