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Making The Declaration Of Independence Chapter Summaries

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The American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence is a book describing the American independence and the process that led to the development of the Declaration of Independence. Maier divides the book into four chapters with each containing different and yet complementary topics surrounding the Declaration. Chapter I analyzes the decision made by the Second continental congress to declare independence and the conditions surrounding it. In Chapter II Maier examines “other declarations of Independence” proposed by colonies and towns that explains and justifies the American people’s sentiment in independence from Great Britain. Chapter III focuses on Thomas Jefferson’s role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and the contributions put forth by different members of the drafting committee. The last Chapter of the book deals with the change in how Americans viewed the Declaration between 1776 and the Civil War, concluding with how …show more content…

Thus, proving that, despite there being issues between Great Britain and the American colonies, the colonists still hoped to salvage their relationship with the mother country. More resentment of George III started to grow in the colonies. Despite the increasing development of American opinion concerning independence the Second Continental Congress sent out multiple addresses and petitions to settle the differences with Great Britain. After George III’s rejection of the Second Continental Congress’s Olive Branch Petition and a petition from the City of London that asked him to bring honorable peace before turning the British arms against the colonists, there was a general sense that it was time for Independence. The colonists were very insistent that it was King George III, who abandoned and forfeited his authority over them, leaving them no choice but to declare completer

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In the year 1176, one of the most important documents of American history was published, the Declaration of Independence. Two writers had varied opinions and interpretations of this document. Bernard Bailyn, a historian, wrote his own interpretation of the Declaration. He explained how it [the Declaration] represented the “colonists’ deepest fears and beliefs.” The colonists believed that they were destined for a special role in history.

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352 Words | 2 Pages

“ I wish nothing but good; therefore, everyone who does not agree with me is a traitor or a scoundrel.” - King George III. That quote speaks to the kings inability to understand the colonists. First, taxes and the acts that the king and parliament passes creates tension between Britain and the colonists. Second, the British expects the colonist to pay for Britain's debts.

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Over the course of American history, society has dealt with many flaws, and dilemmas. In Source B, it illustrates that Abigail Adams, John’s wife, wanted the Continental Congress to remember the ladies when they write The Declaration of Independence. In Source C, it rationalizes how slaves didn’t have equal rights as white men, and the petition is trying to give their natural rights back. Furthermore, in Source D, a miniseries that depicted John Adams life, given particular the Revolutionary War. This source allows the viewer to visualize the conflicts that the Continental Congress had, with the colonists, and the British.

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The colonists still had a sense of solidarity with the British people when they sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George. However, colonial identity experienced a significant evolution away from British mentality, beginning with colonial resentment towards the Proclamation of 1763, progressing through the reaction to the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and manifesting through the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Therefore, colonists became an American people, developing a new colonial identity. When the Second Continental Congress attempted to make amends with King George III with the Olive Branch Petition, the colonies and Britain were practically already at war.

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293 Words | 2 Pages

The Declaration of Independence v. The Constitution The Declaration of Independence is more significant than the United States Constitution, for the principles in the Declaration revolutionized the citizens’ thinking towards themselves and the role of government. As aforementioned, the ethics in the Declaration caused people’s viewpoints to be more respectful towards themselves. For example, the Declaration of Independence begins discussing the unalienable rights of men; these unalienable rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The colonists are essentially stating that King Charles III is not abiding these rights, causing them to grow agitated.

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287 Words | 2 Pages

The Declaration of Independence signifies the separation from Great Britain, and the endeavour of a new world where liberty reigns victorious. The rough draft contains minor revisions with great impacts. As the revisions are made, there is a greater message that lay behind the document which reveals a persevering of identity. Identity, in this context, representing the United States of America as a nation that holds life and liberty to the highest extent. The original document of the United States of America says just as much as the official in comparison because its omissions and revisions reveal the psyche of the leaders.

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383 Words | 2 Pages

The Declaration of Independence is known to be the most famous argument in our country. Its main purpose was to announce the colonies as separate from England. It outlines the principals that were the foundation for declaring independence and to show the lasting impact of the Declaration in relation to other political movements. The Declaration of Independence consisted of five parts: the introduction, the preamble, the indictment of King George III, the denunciation of the British Government, and the conclusion- all of which utilized appeals to pathos, logos, and ethos. It serves as a powerful assertion that surpasses time because its’ concepts reflect lasting, relevant desires and its’ language and syntax creates a flexibility that allows

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302 Words | 2 Pages

The American Declaration of Independence molded the foundation for the United States. Most of the establishments of this country are based on the Continental Congress’ decision to declare independence from Great Britain. The document was the first to demand liberation of the people from the evils of King George. Thomas Jefferson was a highly courageous man for constructing a document that would be considered forbidden during that time, with little to no support from the colonists. One of Jefferson’s main subjects were the colonists’ lack of natural born rights.

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1184 Words | 5 Pages

Faith Stevenson American Scripture American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence is a book by Pauline Maier. The main focus of this book is to look back at the Declaration of Independence and realize its true meaning and the making of it. Maier explains that the Declaration of Independence is the embodiment of the American mind and historical experience, not so much the product of Thomas Jefferson or of some British philosophy of natural rights. The Declaration is more than that and not owed credit to one author. Citizens and the Second Continental Congress played a large role in creating the Declaration of Independence.

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1142 Words | 5 Pages

They had decided that they were no longer content with putting up with Britain’s oppressive rule over them and their people, and would be much better off if they were to be independent from Britain. These men believed that Britain had backed them into a corner—that war was the only option they had left. The fact that King George III refused to read the Olive Branch Petition—the colonists’ last attempt at compromising with the British—helped to push them towards that belief, as it showed the patriots that he was unwilling to make changes to prevent the war from

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569 Words | 3 Pages

The Declaration of Independence and the “Speech in the Virginia Convention” are two of the most influential and powerful debates in the Revolution. These arguments lead Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry to become very important figures in the American Revolution. The revolution was when America was demanding freedom from Great Britain. Both of these literary accomplishments are targeting Great Britain. The similarities and differences of these arguments is shown greatly in their format, content, and persuasive techniques.

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Cold War Cultural era. A Documentary History of the United States, by Richard D.Heffner, has many readings within the book that conveys the rights for The Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence states that, “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” (Heffner 10-11). This declaration was to ensure that every citizen was treated equally and fairly for their basic human rights.

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100 Words | 1 Pages

Declaration of Independence Precis Thomas Jefferson in his historical document, The Declaration of Independence (1776), asserts that the colonies should break free from Britain’s tyranny. Jefferson supports his assertion through the use of anaphora, parallel structure, imagery, emotional appeal to patriotism, and logical appeal to the colonist’s basic rights. Jefferson’s purpose is to advocate for the separation of Britain and the colonies in order to escape the British tyranny that King George imposes on the American colonists. Jefferson writes in a measured tone for the British parliament, King George, and for colonists who have been a victim of Britain’s oppression.

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354 Words | 2 Pages

Jonathan Minott Professor Duffy Usso 10100 10 March 2024 The Declaration of Independence Equality, individualism, self rule, limited government The turning stone for what we know today as The United States of America was formed after the colonists declared independence from Great Britain. They understood what it was like to be under a government that did not treat all of their citizens equally. It's a manifestation of the new American ideals of liberty, self-rule, individualism, limited government, and equality. And beyond that, it makes a bold claim that America's fight for freedom wasn't just a local decision to go to war over taxes and tea, but a battle for the rights of all humanity.

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726 Words | 3 Pages

During the writing of “The Declaration of Independence”, Thomas Jefferson go to great lengths to describe why the colonies were choosing to separate themselves from Great Britain. This is done not only so readers will have a detailed description of what the American people were facing while being ruled by the King. The vivid depiction of all the cruelty he has shown towards the people. Furthermore, the lengthy, highly descriptive examination of all the wrongs and showing that the colonists made many appeals to the King but also the people of Britain that the reader now feels as if it is wrong for the Colonies to be under Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson begins by detailing the ethical standings of all people that live within the colonies.

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