Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, which created the United States. To celebrate the Declaration's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, Monticello has launched Declaration Book Club, featuring short readings, lively videos, and probing questions to spark discussion of our past, present, and future as one people, created equal. What did Jefferson and his cosigners declare in 1776—and how do you pursue life, liberty, and happiness today?