The Importance Of The Declaration Of Independence - 911 Words

An excerpt from the â€Å"Speech at the Virginia Convention† orated by Patrick Henry encapsulates the 1770’s into a precise statement: â€Å"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!†. These powerful words exemplify what one of the most important decades in human history revolved around. A struggle for freedom. While freedom can be defined in many differing ways, the colonists of the British Colonies and their elected delegates seeked to obtain economic freedom from their mother country. The months spent in a Philadelphia hall shaped this movement of liberty and the United States of America for centuries. The Second Continental Congress, while incredible in its accomplishments, did not do so without†¦show more content†¦Massachusetts delegate John Adams wrote in his autobiography the individuals that would form this document. â€Å"The Committee of Independence, were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. Mr. Jefferson had been now about a Year a Member of Congress, but had attended his Duty in the House but a very small part of the time and when there had never spoken in public: and during the whole Time I satt with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three Sentences together†. John Adams, a proponent of this committee and of independence, is rightfully skeptical of Jefferson’s ability to complete the document, as shown in both the thoughts of Adams and in Peter Hunt’s 1776. This source directly corroborates the film, as these five men in the film are tasked with the duty of composing the declaration, and Adams is constantly pressuring Jefferson to complete the document while discrediting him at every turn. The conflict between the northern and southern delegates of the Second Continental Congress is a major point of focus in the film 1776. As the northern and southern colonies had tremendously different eco nomies and were affected by the British Parliament in different ways, it was only natural for the different delegates of Congress to hold separate positions based on their regions. This passage from the autobiography of Thomas Jefferson displays thatShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of The Declaration Of Independence856 Words   |  4 Pagesfirst. This new government would need to be implemented and a set of ethics would need to be created. This land I am talking about is now considered the United States of America and its foundation for its ethics is the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, is a document that the majority of American’s know about. It is taught to children as early as elementary school. I remember learning about its basics all the way back in second grade when myRead MoreThe Importance Of The Declaration Of Independence1147 Words   |  5 Pagesmore difficult. In the case of our nation, the United States declared their independence with a national document, ratifying the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776 and announcing the thirteen American colonies as sovereign states. The Declaration of Independence received wide-spread support as it asserted the people’s natural and legal rights. Perhaps the most profound and powerful sentence of the declaration deals with human rights and that America â€Å"holds these truths to be self-evidentRead MoreImportance Of The Declaration Of Independence707 Words   |  3 PagesThe Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 and i ts purpose was to declare America colonies be free and independent from Great Britain, get other colonists on board, and to encourage other nations to help them withdraw from the British. The first draft was of Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson and then edit by Franklin and Adams and on July 4 the Declaration had been officially adopted by Committee of Five. In the draft Thomas Jefferson was trying to break connectionsRead MorePrinciples Of John Locke And The Declaration Of Independence1021 Words   |  5 Pages Essay Question: RELATE the ideas of John Locke to the Declaration of Independence by DISCUSSING three main ideas in the Declaration of Independence and how each relates to the Natural Rights Philosophy. FCA 1: Clearly stated definition AND explanation of Natural Rights Philosophy. (35 points) FCA 2: Correct and consistent verb usage. (15 points) FCA 3: No unnecessary words and phrases; no repetition. (15 points) FCA 4: Concluding remarks that summarizes the focus of the essay and emphasizesRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And Independence969 Words   |  4 PagesThe US Constitution, The Declaration of Independence as well as the Letter to the Danbury Baptist are not just historical documents, but some of if not the most important documents of the history of our nation. Although, similar in many facets the intentions and the goal pursued by each highlight their individuality. The fact that the Declaration of Independence was the first to be implemented and signed is of significant importance as it set the pace and put in motion the proceeding documents thatRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Thomas Jefferson1420 Words   |  6 PagesMy initial thought of writing a paper for The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, was one of confusion and nervousness. I had no idea how I could write a paper on the documents structural elements and not focus on its histor y; however, once I did some research it became clear to me how I would write this paper. The Declaration of Independence is an influential document with argumentative writing techniques that appeal to the reader’s emotions. This document also contains persuasiveRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence1330 Words   |  6 Pagesparagraph of the most significant of all American historical documents, the Declaration of Independence. The very theory of natural rights dramatically influenced the conception of this starting paragraph. Natural rights is a political theory that strongly asserts that each individual who enters into any society possesses certain rights that no government can deny. The Declaration of Independence is a full and formal declaration adopted on July 4, 1776 by the representatives of the thirteen coloniesRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence From England880 Words   |  4 Pageseventually become the United States of America, signed the declaration of Independence from England. The declaration pretty much summarized the colonists’ motivation for seeking independence. The 13 colonies want to obtain their independence from England for many reasons. England establishing the Stamp Act was the first major American opposition to the British Policy that led Americans to realize that it was a time for change. By gaining their Independence, American colonists were finally able to confirm anRead MoreComparing The Declaration Of Independence926 Words   |  4 Pages 2 The US Constitution, The Declaration of Independence as well as the Letter to the Danbury Baptist are not just historical documents, but are some of if not the most important documents of the history of our nation. Although, similar in many facets the intentions and the goal pursued by each highlight their individuality. The fact that the Declaration of Independence was the first to be implemented and signed is of significant importance as it set the pace and put in motion the subsequentRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence : What Shaped And Provided The Freedom The United States Of America1030 Words   |  5 PagesAbstract The declaration of Independence is what shaped and provided the freedom the United States of America has today. The Declaration of Independence today is looked at a symbol for America to reflect on as it paved the way for most of the rights we have today. This document has been fundamental to american history longer than any other text because it was the first text to use â€Å"The United States of America† and in a sense the Declaration was the birth certificate of the American nation