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Instruction 1-1 Declaration of Independence | American Revolution | Early Politics | Summary
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE |
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The
Declaration of Independence is one of the m ost important documents in
the history of the United States. It was written and adopted a little over a
year after the American Revolution began. It is a declaration of democratic
principles rather than a framework for government, but it has had
immeasurable influence on people and governments throughout the world for
over 200 years.
In the summer of 1776, representatives of the thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia. One important member was James Wilson, whom all the founding fathers looked up to as one of the most knowledgeable men on the intricacies of government. Wilson was vehemently opposed to being governed by British Parliament. On June 11, the Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration of independence from Britain and its ruler, King George III. This committee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson was selected to write the first draft of the declaration, which he did in one day. Naturally, there was intense (and heated) discussion of Jefferson's draft. Many changes were made, mostly by Adams and Franklin -- including the elimination of a paragraph condemning the slave trade. But just seventeen days later, on July 2, 1776, twelve of the thirteen colonies voted to accept the edited document (New York abstained). It was formally adopted just two days later, on July 4, l776 -- which is why America celebrates The Fourth of July as Independence Day. Many of the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence come directly from a European intellectual movement called The Enlightenment, which had a great impact on America in the 17th and 18th centuries. A 50-page pamphlet called Common Sense -- written and published by Thomas Paine in Philadelphia in 1776 -- is considered an outstanding exposition of the ideas of The Enlightenment. It argued strongly for American independence and was an instant best seller. Almost every literate person in America either read or heard about it. The most important idea of the Enlightenment was faith in the power of human reason. Philosophers and scientists like Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes, Isaac Newton and John Locke put forth the idea that human beings had natural rights -- privileges in natural law to which all men were entitled just by being human. In his Two Treatises of Government (published in 1690), Locke said that the state exists to preserve the natural rights of its citizens. Therefore, he said, if a government fails to protect its peoples' rights, the citizens should rebel against it. Locke was also an exponent of the theory of the social contract, which states that governments are formed with the consent of the governed. (Philosophers are still arguing this theory today.) Thomas Jefferson was a great admirer of John Locke, as you can see from his words in the Declaration of Independence. In fact, he considered Locke one of the three greatest men who ever lived (Bacon and Newton were the others). Here is what Jefferson wrote: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it." The document then goes on to list specific grievances and complaints against King George and states that is the duty of the colonies to throw off his rule. The complete Declaration of Independence can be found on many different web sites. It is not a long document -- and you should read it now. Click on: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/68/documents/declaration/index.html
In previous Lessons, you learned that you should judge a document against the standards and social attitudes of its time and not of your own. So although women, Indians and slaves were not included in the Declaration's "all men are created equal" proposition, white men who didn't own property were not included either. Those are very serious omissions, of course. But one of the things that makes America great is that many people have been struggling to make up for those omissions ever since. In addition to the following Student, Parent and Teacher links on the Declaration of Independence, you may also wish to review the historical events that led up to the American Revolution. Although you have studied them in past Lessons, these two links will give you an excellent chronology: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/rev-prel.htm Links for Students, Parents and Teachers Now let's do Practice Exercise 1-1 (top).
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