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The Grievances And Principles In The Declaration Of Independence

1807 Words8 Pages

The American revolution began as a result of the tyrannies and injustices suffered at the hands of King George III and ultimately led to a dissolution of loyalty to the British Crown. It is a crucial step in securing a stable life for us, our ancestors, and our descendants. The Declaration of Independence was used to announce our departure from Britain and laid the groundwork for the Union under which we live today. The grievances displayed in the Declaration alongside the principles taken from John Locke and presented to build upon demonstrate two models of government; one to evade, and one to strive for. The demonstrations and principles in the Declaration of Independence are visible for all to see, and those principles, with careful examination, …show more content…

The Law of Nature, derivative of the State of Nature, urges us to uphold that state, maintaining our own rights and freedoms while acknowledging others’ rights to such freedoms as well, encouraging an agreement between all parties to mutually refrain from infringing upon the rights of others. An ideal state of being, but one near unattainable; A society without constraints is bound to a tendency of injustice and an aversion to peace. It is expected that one man among many will think himself entitled to the assets of another, resorting to the usage of force to impose his own will on another, breaking from the Law of Nature, and embedding us in a State of War. It is the existence of this State of War which necessitates a mediator, one to protect our rights and to punish those who think themselves to be above the Law of Nature. The purpose of government is to be just that—a mediator, one to protect us from those that we cannot protect ourselves, to provide a standard of being and to maintain our rights and freedoms as

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Examples Of Grievances In The Declaration Of Independence

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Another grievance was the difficulties in the colonies with British Soldiers. The soldiers sent from Britain had unfair advantages concerning laws, and the British government protected the from Colonial Law. The soldiers did not have to follow the laws the colonists did, the military was allowed to create their own laws. The Administration of Justice Act stated the colonists could not try soldiers in a court of law. The Quartering Act required colonists to allow soldiers to sleep and eat in their homes.

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Each grievance stated begins with “He has,” creating an exasperated, elongated, ‘laundry list’ tone. Furthermore, “That to secure these rights… Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government… it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government… Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.” The parallel structures used in this excerpt serve a crucial role in the effectiveness of the document mainly in providing a concrete rhythm. This rhythm shows that the Declaration of Independence was not merely a complaint letter—it was a proclamation of

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