The United States of America is considered to be one of the greatest countries in the world, and it’s mostly due to the fact that it was founded on the principle of freedom. Today, the United States is celebrating its 236th birthday, and much has changed in the country since its inception. One thing that hasn’t changed is the fact that the Declaration of Independence is still considered to be one of the founding documents of the United States. Written by the greatest leader of the time, Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence speaks to the core values that the country was built on.
The Main Document
On June 14, 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote to Colonel Peter Carleton demanding that a declaration of independence be drafted. The Continental Congress had voted to request that King George III provide liberty to the colonists, and Carleton was given the task of drafting a statement that responded to this request. This document would become known as the Declaration of Independence. The first part of the Declaration was officially adopted on July 4, 1776, and it consisted of six articles. Jefferson was responsible for writing all six articles, and he did so while he was Secretary of State in the administration of President George Washington.
The Importance Of The Declaration
The importance of the Declaration of Independence cannot be overstated. The United States is certainly not the only country to have been founded on the principle of liberty, but considering that the United States is the third-largest country in the world, the importance of the idea of liberty becomes more apparent. More than 200 years after it was originally written, the Declaration of Independence is still seen as the foundation for American society. It sets the stage for many of the reforms carried out by the country in the 19th century.
The Language Of The Declaration
One of the first things that you’ll notice about the Declaration of Independence is the language that Jefferson used. The document was originally written in English, and it was later translated into French. Much of the language is legalistic, which at the time was the common law. For example, in the opening line of the declaration, Jefferson wrote, “when in the course of human events…” This phrase is often repeated throughout the document, and it refers to the fact that the country is being founded as a brand new nation, and not as part of another country. This idea of America as a brand new country was a novel concept in the 18th century, and it was something that would greatly influence the country’s early development.
The Ratification Of The Declaration
On July 4th, 1776, the United States officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. This was a monumental day, as the United States had now officially declared its independence from Great Britain. The next day, Jefferson sent a letter to John Jay, in which he stated, “I congratulate you, my friend, on the achievement of your countrymen and women, and hope the blessings of heaven will accompany them in their future efforts.” Later that year, Jefferson was asked to write a book about the Declaration, and he complied by presenting a 38-page treatment of the subject to the Virginia legislature in October. In this treatise, Jefferson laid out the arguments for and against the Declaration. Most notably, he argued that the Declaration was not legally binding and could not be imposed upon the American people since it had not been ratified by the appropriate governmental bodies. It was not until March 21, 1781, that the Virginia legislature officially ratified the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was a very wise man, and he truly understood the importance of the Declaration. The fact that he spent so much time writing and preparing a presentation on the subject shows just how much it meant to him.
Early Influences On Jefferson
Many people are not aware of how deeply American ideals inspired Jefferson as he wrote the Declaration of Independence. The ideas of democracy and equality were not new in the 18th century, as the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote extensively on the subject. Additionally, Jefferson was greatly influenced by the writings of English philosopher John Locke, who wrote in his second treatise on government entitled, “The Second Treatise On Civil Government”, that “all political power belongs to the people.” Like Rousseau and Locke before him, Jefferson believed that the people were best positioned to keep track of the conduct of their government, and he saw the role of the statesman as that of an educator, bringing enlightenment to the people.
The Significance Of The Declaration
The significance of the Declaration of Independence can be appreciated by looking at the fact that it was written in the late 18th century during a time of great political upheaval and change. The United States was officially founded as a country in the middle of the 18th century, and it was a time of great progress and optimism. This is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that when the Declaration was initially published in 1776, it was attributed to the Committee of the whole House, and not to Jefferson specifically. Since then, Jefferson’s name has been permanently associated with the document, and it is now commonly referred to as the “Jefferson Declaration”.
The Changing Worldview Of Jefferson
Jefferson’s outlook on life and the world changed greatly over the course of his long life. When he was a baby, his family moved to Shadwell, which was then located in the British West Indies. Their new home was only a few blocks away from the waterfront, and this proximity to the water inspired Jefferson’s later fascination with ships and nautical matters. It was also around this time that he encountered the writings of French philosophers such as Rousseau and Voltaire. Later, as an adult, he worked as a surveyor in Kentucky, and it was there that he first began to see the world as a whole, not just the American portion of it. This is reflected in the Jefferson Declaration, in which he writes that the purpose of the document is to “assure the world that these United States are not led by an oppressive government, but rather that freedom and justice reign supreme.”
A Justification Of The Declaration
One of the most significant things about the Declaration of Independence is that it contains a justification of the rebellion. This is important because it means that the men and women who participated in the Revolution were not completely selfish and thoughtless in what they did, but rather that there was a good reason for their actions. This is not always the case with rebellious acts, especially those committed by young people, and it serves as a justification for the American Revolution.
Lessons For Today
The United States is certainly not the only country to have been founded on the principle of liberty, but considering that it is the third-largest country in the world, the importance of the idea of liberty becomes more apparent. We should not be afraid to use the words of the great Jefferson, as he stated in the Declaration of Independence, to guide us through this modern day of upheaval and change:
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and independent stations to which their equal dignity invites them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind demands that they should declare the causes which impel them to separate.
We should all be thankful to Thomas Jefferson for his tireless search for truth, his unwavering dedication to the American ideal, and the magnificent gift that he has given to us, the American people.