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Argumentative Essay On The Declaration Of Independence

498 Words2 Pages

For most American students, the school day starts with the Pledge of Allegiance. This pledge symbolizes for what America supposedly stands. The end of the pledge summarizes the beliefs of the American people with the statement “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The first part of the statement “one nation under God” is the spark for many debates about the religious founding of America. These debates all strive to decide between two questions. Was America founded by men of God? Or was America founded by men who believed in the necessary freedom to practice all beliefs? The men who founded America did not found it as a Christian Nation, and this is seen through two main documents and many quotes left by the …show more content…

Often the true purpose of the Declaration is misunderstood. Dan Barker said that “We are not governed by the Declaration. Its purpose was to 'dissolve the political bands,' not to set up a religious nation” ("Does the Declaration of Independence Set a Precedent for Religion in Government? - Under God in the Pledge - ProCon.org.")Therefore Declaration is not a governmental influence; it is a document that represents gaining independence from an oppressor. Because it was written by the founders, Christian scholars use the Declaration as evidence of America as a Christian Nation. This is disproven by Dr. Gregg Frazer when he states; …there is no specifically Christian or biblical language in the Declaration of Independence. Of the four references to God, the only biblical term in the Declaration is the general term Creator-a term used by deists, Jews, Christians, and secularists alike in 1776. (Frazer) The language of a document is important in finding the truth and the truth here is that the Declaration was written in a way that agreed with the terminology of multiple religions of the day. Other than the Declaration the founding fathers also left another document called the

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According to 48 Liberal Lies about American History, Larry Schweikart argues that the founding fathers of the United States truly did want religion to be incorporated into government. James Madison, one of America 's founding fathers, first considered the relationship between religion and government when he saw a group of Baptists in a local jail. He determined that it was necessary for all citizens to have an equal opportunity to practice their own religion, whether their beliefs align with the government or not. Madison eventually paired with Thomas Jefferson, and together their support for religious freedom changed legislation.

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The United States of America's Declaration of Independence is a document that was written by Thomas Jefferson. This document describes to England, that the American colonies no longer wish to maintain themselves under British laws and rules. They wish to be a nation on their own. The colonists were tired and fed up of living under British rule. The taxes were becoming unbearable and seen as unfair for them to pay.

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After reading the U.S Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1802. I realized that all three of these documents have common signers and Thomas Jefferson as the creator of these documents. God also plays a major role in these documents. As mentioned in the Declaration of Independence “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 the pursuit of Happiness (Declaration, 2016, p. 1)”. This document, which was created, first in order to assure our countries stability states that our country has been built on God, and it united the thirteen colonies.

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The Declaration of Independence is America’s political tradition founding document. It expresses the underlying ideas that form the nation of American, that is, all men are created equal and free and hold the same inborn, natural rights. Therefore lawful governments must be based on the approval of the governed and must secure their rights. The Declaration of Independence notified the world of the unanimous decision of the 13 American colonies to detach from Great Britain.

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Why are the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, and why is this a social issue with some people? First of all the pledge of allegiance was written in 1892. The Pledge became part of the U.S. Flag Code in 1942, and in 1954 President Eisenhower and Congress added the phrase "under God” into the Pledge. The supporters that would like to including "under God" in the Pledge argue that the United States is a Christian nation. At least 80% of Americans support the phrase, and it reflects America’s culture, religious statement, federal law, state constitutions, and the U.S. currency.

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The Constitution forms a secular document , and nowhere in the Constitution appeal to God , Christianity , Jesus , or any supreme being . Actually , later in the first Amendment , it points out this , “Congress shall make NO law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances .”Although the Constitution does not mention " Separation of Church and State," neither does it say "Freedom of religion . " However, the Constitution implies both in the 1st Amendment . Also , according to Thomas Jefferson was one of the people who supported " Separation of Church and State," as well as one of the founding fathers , we can sure that it is not a powerful argument to say America did had a Christian founding because some of the founding fathers are Christian

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Then Benjamin Franklin was clearly not a practicing Christian, even though he suggested praying at the Continental Congress, which got shut down by the others,but Benjamin Franklin was quite promiscuous in his personal affairs. John Adams, the second President and first Vice President said this “The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” Our country was founded freedom of speech, religion, that all men are created equal, and many other rights we are entitled to still to this day. The United States is a country of freedom, the United States was not founded Christian.

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Introduction The stories of the founding of the United States is legendary in many regards. History places it that America was found by a group of farmers who had local political experience. This group came together in one accord and in arms to go against the monarch and tyrant to become a self-governed state. In the words of these men, “all men are created equal,” a phrase that natural elicited men and women to risk their lives for freedom .

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