The Declaration of Independence states a strong exclamation that structures the rights of citizens as well as the formation of our history. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” clearly emphasizes the value of each person in the United States. In addition, it institutes that as an independent nation, the United States can only go forward with and by the people. Back in our nation’s history, the Declaration was written as proof that each person had rights, and without protection or consent, citizens cannot be ruled. The United States has built up by the basis of rights and actions of citizens, because of the principles that define and can declare those actions. The beginning proclamation in the Declaration of Independence states an important aspect of the citizens, “unalienable Rights”. The term was written to defend the rights of citizens therefore leading to the protection that rights cannot be taken away from. The framework of a new form of government was led by the importance of “unalienable Rights” through the Founders, because of their belief in freedom of equality for all citizens. Back in the nation’s history, they were under rule with no representation or say by Parliament, and …show more content…
The principles are protected by the establishment of voting rights, for citizen approval of any proposals or actions. The powers of the Government remain “just” because only the people ensure it. Their voice is the delineation of the Constitution, by their approval. A current event today that exemplifies that is gay rights. That issue comes intact with Amendment I, which abides the actions of Congress to rule against one’s
The Declaration of Independence argues “… whenever any form of government becomes destructive, of these ends (the rights of the people), it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government…” This statement is saying that if the government doesn’t suffice to the needs of the United States inhabitants, the people have the right to take action and alter or completely
On July 4, 1776, an independent and fervent nation was born. Our Founding Fathers used an overwhelming sense of integrity and determination to fabricate the Declaration of Independence - a historical document that pleads King George III for independence and stresses the importance of freedom, equality, and natural rights. Though the Declaration of Independence signifies the birth of America and represents a powerful landmark in our history, when looked at from a broad spectrum, it can be seen as arrogant, ironic, and controversial. The Declaration states, “ … 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” (“The declaration”,
The Declaration of Independence is a clear contrast to the divine right of kings. It was a rejection of England, the monarchy, and the idea of the divine right of kings. It states the principles of the government and the American people. America has a limited government, which restricts what a government may do, and each citizen gains the same rights that cannot be taken away by the government, which leads to the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is the first of 10 amendments to the Constitution.
This document explained the political philosophy of the United States when they declared independence from Great Britain. This also was a letter to King George of England that many Colonists complained that he was a tyrant to his people of Great Britain. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson stated that “It is the people’s right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” This statement concludes that the people of the United States have a right to choose the people who rule their government. The people they choose to allow their people to feel protected from the tyrants. The Declaration is a document that explained the independence and freedom that we gained from Great Britain’s tyrants. This also helped the people realize that they had to overthrow their own ruler to rebuild their
In comparing Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists, The Declaration of Independence, and U.S. Constitution, it is evident that the basis of all three documents is the idea that all human beings possess God-given fundamental rights and that government is created to protect those rights. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, is the first of the three documents penned. This is important because it defined the rights of liberty and equality of all American citizens as outlined in John Locke’s natural law thesis (Martin, page 113). In addition to providing an itemized account of the grievances colonist’s held against King George III of England, it served to justify the colonist’s quest for independence and separation from British rule. The Declaration of Independence conveyed to the crown that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, which among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The Founders’ of the New World understood that their pursuit of liberties and autonomy specified in the Declaration of Independence could not come to fruition without instituting decrees. In 1787, the U.S. Constitution, was written to replace the Articles of Confederation with a better defined series of stringent laws that would legally uphold the freedoms and privileges established in the Declaration of Independence. The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights in
The Declaration of Independence was created to make sure everybody was equal. All men are created equal. Government is upholding the principles of the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence is a timeless document that had great meaning in 1776 and does today as well. Unalienable rights are mentioned in the Declaration of Independence as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Unalienable rights mean something to everyone personally, it meant something to the writers of the declaration and it affects us today. Unalienable rights are the rights you are born with that cannot be taken away from you.
The Declaration of Independence is one of the essential documents of the American Founding, as it articulates a set of political principle about the purposes of the new, independent republic. It is essentially a formal statement that describes the reason for America wanting freedom and separation from Great Britain. It reflects key American ideas, including liberty, individualism, self-rule, limited government, equality, and the American dream. Unlike many other democracies, the U.S. maintained and embraced these ideas throughout its past, is applying it in the present, and will continue to follow them in the future.
There was once a country that did not have unalienable rights. Its citizens did not have the power to live life the way they want to, they could not strive to achieve their full potential, and lived under an oppressive government that did not allow them to have freedom. This description of this “country” may seem like an excerpt from a fictional apocalypse story but this is how America would be like without the Declaration of Independence and its emphasis on the four ideals, which includes equality, unalienable rights, consent of the governed, and the right of the people to alter or abolish the government. This is also the current condition of many countries that do not emphasize the four ideals. The Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson in June 1776 after he was asked by the Continental Congress to write a Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. At this point, the Revolutionary War has been going on for a year. The colonies finally wanted to break away from Britain and appointed a committee of five to write, edit, and publish the document. The Declaration of Independence stated four important ideals but which ideal is most important? Of these ideals, equality and right to alter or abolish the government are very significant, but the most important ideal is unalienable rights.
Individual rights and forming a lasting union is what keeps the laws and the lives of people balanced and safe in America. The Declaration of Independence, by Thomas Jefferson, firmly states 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.” This statement by Jefferson states that all men and women have equal rights and if the government were to go against these rules, the people can alter or abolish it, balancing between preserving individual rights and forming a strong, lasting union. Furthermore, The Declaration of Independence outlines a series of violations of people’s rights that the King of Great Britain, George III, caused by a repeated history of “injuries and usurpations”, as stated in The Declaration of Independence, to the states and overall the people. With the
“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
The issue the Declaration of Independence being a legal document has been up for debate in courts for many years now. Although, the Declaration of Independence clarifies the United States identity as a free nation, it has generated intense controversy. Some feel strongly that it did not clearly define the new powers that the thirteen colonies would acquire and did not define the identity of the United States; while, others firmly believe that without the Declaration of Independence the United States would not be the free nation that it is today. Therefore, serving as the foundation for many laws and documents composed after it, the Declaration of Independence has been helpful in defining the rights of the American citizens, the powers of
The Declaration of Independence is made up of five distinct parts: the introduction, which states 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” (McClellan, 2000, p. 183 ), and why the United States should be free from Britain’s rule. The preamble, “that set out principles that were already recognized to be
The Declaration of Independence was the cornerstone of American freedom and equality. By writing this document, the American Colonies could now begin the process of starting a new way of life and a new government. Obviously, at the time the Declaration of Independence was written the concept of “equality” was more limited than it is today. Certainly, all members of colonial America did not share equal status. However the concepts of the Declaration of Independence have evolved more fully over the centuries
The Declaration of Independence states (US 1776) "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