Filosofia

Laiza Maria Zaldivar
History 1301
TTH 10:00 am- 11:20 am
VV B1303
July 22, 2011

The Importance of the Declaration of Independence

In 1776, the tyranny of King George III made it necessary for the thirteen English
Colonies of America to unite, declare independence and to sever political ties to Great Britain.
The Declaration of Independence was and is the most important part ofAmerica’s history
because of its influence throughout history. The over taxed, under represented people of
America needed a strong unwavering statement showing the colonists resolve to be free of
English rule. The Declaration of Independence was the starting point for the United States
effectively serving its purpose, making it the most important document in history.
Thomas Jefferson the author ofthe Declaration of Independence was a well educated
man graduating from The College of William and Mary in 1762. Born in Virginia 1743,
Jefferson went to school learning French, Greek and Latin becoming quickly fluent in all three.
Jefferson studied mathematics, philosophy and law so as to become a lawyer and was admitted to
the Virginia BAR in 1767. Interested in politics at a young age,Jefferson became a delegate for
the Continental Congress in June 1775. A year later he was the man appointed to write the first
draft of the Declaration. Jefferson was elected because of his intellectual prowess and his known
skill for writing. The congress was in need of a document explaining the decision to separate
from their sovereign country and why that decision was made.
In theDeclaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson wrote about how when a
government becomes “destructive” and counterproductive to its people, it is the right of the people “to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government...” Jefferson wrote very
passionately about egalitarianism and how all men have rights and “among these are Life,
Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”. Thomas Jeffersonrecognized that these rights aren't
always attainable, but when a government repeatedly ignores these rights entirely, it then
becomes the right of the people “...to throw off such a government...” He then claims that the
King of Great Britain has subjected the people of America to his tyranny for too long. The list of
offenses against the colonists proceeds, with a focus on the King'sattempts to undermine the
governments of the colonies and the horrors of war that had already been afflicted on the
colonists. Jefferson even addresses that for every offense against them; the colonists had tried to
communicate peacefully with their oppressors but were only “answered with repeated injury.”
Thomas Jefferson concludes the piece by declaring these united colonies as a “free andindependent states... Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown“. This powerful
message to the most powerful man in Europe was what the newly formed states needed to unite
under one banner and to show England that they were going to fight for their freedom. The
message was so powerful that the rights of men, according to Jefferson, are still the principal
rights of men in thecountry today
The Declaration of Independence was important when it was written because it
formalized the opposing sides during the Revolutionary War. It stated that the English colonies
of America had united to create a country where freedom and religious acceptance are the rights
for all men in the country. The Declaration of Independence put into words what the colonists
felt needed tobe done. But without it, the separation could have not gained enough momentum
to give the colonists a chance against the all powerful English monarchy.
Some would argue that other documents such as the Constitution or the Emancipation
Proclamation have had a bigger affect on America’s history. This is not true because neither of
these doctrines would have been written without a...