The Declaration of Independence

 

            Written in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was intended to declare

 the independence of the colonies from the British Empire. The declaration consists of two parts, with the first being the right of man to have a government of his own creation. In the second part, the declaration lists grievances against the English king. “The colonists’ momentous decision in July 1776 to break away from England in order to govern themselves marked the first time in human history that an independent nation came into existence by affirming a universal moral principle that stood above, and served as a standard for, all government.” (The Commission on Unalienable Rights, 2020)

Ideas of the Declaration of Independence

            Based on the theory that all men are entitled to certain basic rights, that the purpose of government is to protect those rights, and that the people have the right to abolish the government if it doesn't fulfill its duties, the Declaration laid the philosophical basis for secession. (McClellan, 1989) The declaration uses natural law and natural rights to justify the separation of the colonies and the formation of independent states. It is important for the founders to explain why separation was justified and why it was not treason. “The Declaration was viewed as abolishing the social contract with Great Britain and establishing a state of nature between two independent polities.” (Barnett, 2019)  

The Understanding of Rights

            “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.” (Declaration of Independence: A Transcription, 2022)

            The Declaration of Independence makes it clear that the founders believed that God gave us rights that can not be taken away by anyone. A person has a right to live. To have the freedom to obtain property. To defend life and property against those that would take it.

            The concepts of natural rights and natural law were dominant in their thinking. “By natural law, we mean those principles which are inherent in man’s nature as a rational, moral, and social being, and which cannot be casually ignored.” (McClellan, 1989) The basis of the declaration was that rights occur naturally. That rights are not given to a person by a government but by God. Laws are not created but are discovered through human nature, reason, and experience. Thomas Jefferson, the main writer of the declaration, was influenced by many different political writers and philosophers. Most of these influences were themselves influenced by Christian principles. One of those influences was John Locke and his theory that government only derives its power from God and the people of a country.

Political Ideas not found in the Declaration of Independence

            Although the declaration held many of the beliefs of what governments should do and how governments get their power, the declaration does not specifically tell how to structure those governments. The declaration’s purpose is to announce the separation from England and to justify that separation. The declaration only dealt with the problems with England and did not include rights such as freedom of the press and the free exercise of religion.

Conclusion

            The Declaration of Independence is a document that was written with a specific purpose. To announce the separation from England and to justify why it was not treason to do so. The declaration used many philosophical arguments for God-given rights. Specific grievances against the king of England and the colonist felt they did not receive the same rights as English subjects. The Declaration of Independence became a document that is revered all around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Barnett, Randy E. (2019)  The Declaration of Independence and the American Theory of Government: 'First Come Rights, and Then Comes Government'. Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy 42.1 (2019): 23+. Business Insights: Global. Web. 11 July 2022.

 

The Commission on Unalienable Rights. (2020, August). Report of the Commission on Unalienable Rights. US State Department.

 

Declaration of Independence: A Transcription. (2022, June 8). National Archives. Retrieved 2022, from https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

 

McClellan, J. (1989). Liberty, Order, and Justice. Liberty Fund.  https://oll.libertyfund.org/title/mcclellan-liberty-order-and-justice.