Declaration Of Independence Significance

The American Revolution, perhaps the most momentous war-related milestone in American history, would not have been possible without the strenuous efforts of the courageous men we call Patriots or otherwise known as the Founding Fathers of America, who gave their all in the fight for freedom against the British. Many names of great men come to mind when we think “founding fathers,” such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, or Samuel Adams. Yet there is still one great patriot and founding father who seems to stand out above the rest, and that man is Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson is widely known as being the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Louisiana Purchase that bought more than 20% of the U.S. However, what most

Thomas Jefferson once said, “When the people fear the government there is tyranny, when the government fears the people there is liberty.” Thomas Jefferson believed the best government was the one that governs the least . Jefferson stressed how a small government with limited powers is most likely to leave the people alone and have them enjoy the Blessings of Liberty. Furthermore, Thomas Jefferson was a man who had numerous accomplishments in his life. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence, author of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, founder of the University of Virginia, and the third President of the United States. His strict interpretation of the Constitution was due to his belief that the charter was designed to provide the people with a say in governmental affairs. Mr. Jefferson won the approval from the working class because he fought for them and not the powerful interests of the wealthy. Although Jefferson was a vocal and active leader in the rights of states, his recommendation of the Embargo Act and his support of the Non-Intercourse act resulted in his failure as the Commander In Chief.

     A democracy is a system of government controlled by the people, not by one certain group or individual. In the Declaration of Independence it states that “all men are created equal,” an idea which leads to the concept that all citizens should have the same rights, responsibilities, and influence in the governing of their country. In writing the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson was trying to break his ties with the harsh and non-democratic rule of the British and begin a new, equal society and government for America.

“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” - The Declaration of Independence

Monticello is considered one of the greatest architectural feats for the time in which it was built. Thomas Jefferson built a home that was years beyond its time. He included sunlights to let in the sun for extra lighting. Jefferson also was one of the first people to go away from the block style building with a hall down the middle and rooms off to the left and right. He created a central room with a circular path going around the rooms. This is one of the beginnings of the

Thomas Jefferson believed that all Americans should have the "freedom of language and sentiment…as derived from the laws of nature" . In his most famous document, the Declaration of Independence, he stated "that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain [inherent and] inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" . Jefferson was a strong advocate of a bill of rights within the Constitution. In a letter to James Madison, he says that he "did not like…the omission of a bill of rights providing…for freedom of religion [and for] freedom of the press" . Jefferson was in favor of religious freedom because it did him "no injury for [his] neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god" . Jefferson wrote the Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom which essentially stated "that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion" . He summarizes his feelings in letters to both Elbridge Gerry and Edward Carrington, where he writes that he is "against all violations of the constitution" because "the basis of our governments should be the opinion of the people, [and] the very first object should be to keep that right" .

The Declaration of Independence was for the most part the work of Virginian Jefferson. In justifying American independence, President Jefferson drew liberally from the political philosophy of John Locke, an advocate of natural rights, and from the work of different English theorists. The declaration features the immortal lines, “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 therefore the pursuit of Happiness.” It then goes on to gift an extended list of grievances that provided the explanation for rebellion. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted to approve a Virginia motion calling for separation from Great Britain. The dramatic words of this resolution were supplemental to the closing of the Declaration of Independence. July 4, the declaration was formally adopted by 12 colonies after minor

	After finishing college in 1762, Jefferson studied law with George Wythe. "He watched with concern as tension grew between the American Colonies and Great Britain (Nardo 136)". In 1765, Jefferson heard Patrick Henry give his famous speech against the Stamp Act, he saw it stir up the people. In 1767, Jefferson was admitted to the bar. He practiced law with great success until public service began taking all of his time. He divided his time between Williamsburg (college) and Shadwell. At Shadwell, he designed and supervised the building of his own home Monticello.

Although many of us know Thomas Jefferson for being the third president of the United States, that was not something he wanted engraved on his grave. Inscribed on his grave are the following words, “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom and father of the University of Virginia.’’ Thomas Jefferson is known as someone who changed the United States. In addition to being president, Jefferson is also one of the Founding Fathers, as well as a well respected governor. He will forever be known as the man who drafted the Declaration of Independence, which declared our Independence from Great Britain, and started the great country of the United States.

Eugene R. Sheridan is a member of the Princeton University Department of History and Senior Associate Editor of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson. He has written books and articles on a number of subjects in early American History. To begin with, the author cites specific achievements that Thomas Jefferson made, starting with the contributions he did when he was part of the Continental Congress. “As a member of the Continental Congress, he proclaimed in the imperishable prose of the Declaration of Independence the values of liberty, equality, and natural rights that always have been at the heart of the American experiment in self-government” (Sheridan 64). He specifically speaks about his participation as the main author of the Declaration of Independence.

Specific Statement: Throughout his life he proved to accomplish many things that led to the expansion and growth of the United States and American history.

The Congress soon appointed a five-man committee consisting of Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston to write a Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to be the first author to pen the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. Over the course of a seventeen day period, it was believed that Jefferson had written one of the most powerful and influential documents ever produced in the world’s history. The document went through many revisions before it was finally brought to the table and held high by the founding fathers. Nevertheless, many of the words and phrases are originals that came from Thomas Jefferson thus cementing him in history forever. Jefferson’s most famous words to be solidified in history are, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator

The Declaration of Independence brought America its independence, and it self, as well as our constitution. The declaration of independence had many positive effects on America. The Declaration of Independence is the usual name of a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. This stated that the thirteen American colonies, called themselves the thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and that they were no longer a part of the British Empire. Instead of staying in the British Empire, they formed a new nation; the United States of America. Many people wanted independence, but John Adams really believe in and pushed for independence. America’s independence was approved on July 2, 1776. A committee of five had already wrote a draft of the declaration, so it was ready when Congress voted on independence. The term "Declaration of Independence" is not used in the document itself, but is explained and perceived.

The Declaration of independence has meaning because it is the first document to separate ourselves from the British and started the revolution. The declaration of independence also listed the complaints the Americans had against the British and set the standard for the what the founding fathers wanted America to be. America has somewhat faded from the original standards as the country has become more liberal and progressive. A good example of this is the freeing of the slaves after the civil war, originally the founding fathers wanted to keep slaves and most were slave owners themselves. In some ways, America has stuck to the declaration we still believe in no taxation without representation and freedom of church and state. Of course,

Since the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the Constitution, America has changed profusely in regards to ideas, people, and events. Due to all these changes in modern society, it is valuable to note the importance of what the first sentence of paragraph three of the Declaration of Independence states in order to take us to the building blocks of the nation and understand where we come from. As it proclaims, “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…” Written by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence is a document which highlights upon the idea that freedom is crucial for a people and so the thirteen colonies, which were under British rule, were to separate and become their own united nation. The Preamble to the Constitution is also a statement which should be looked upon, but the Declaration of Independence is what truly captivates those of America today because it is relevant towards how people should be treated and how society should act if treated without tolerance.