he theme of freedom and equality is prevalent in both “The Declaration of Independence” by Thomas Jefferson and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr. While the two documents were written over a century apart, they share a common goal of achieving justice and fairness for all people. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s letter builds upon the foundation laid by Jefferson in the Declaration, asserting that freedom and equality are not just ideals to be strived for, but are rights that must be guaranteed to all citizens. Freedom and equality were crucial values in the eras of both Martin Luther King Jr. and the Declaration of Independence. King fought for the civil rights of African Americans, who were denied basic freedoms and treated unequally under the law. Similarly, the Declaration of Independence by Jefferson proclaimed that all men are created equal and entitled to certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Both men recognized that without freedom and equality, individuals are unable to fully participate in society and achieve their full potential.
In “The Declaration of Independence,” Jefferson writes, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
…show more content…
Jefferson writes, “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” He acknowledges that the people must come together to fight for their rights and protect themselves from a government that seeks to oppress them. King similarly recognizes the importance of unity in the fight for justice, writing, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as