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The Grievances And Principles In The Declaration Of Independence

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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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To begin with, the colonial legislatures, the First Great Awakening, the term “Patriots”, the Preamble to the United States Constitution, the Second Continental Congress and the Daughters of Liberty unified the American citizens during the political transition to independence. As the people of the Americas became more unified, a sense of patriotism was developed towards the United States. Second, when the Albany Plan of Union, the Proclamation of 1763, and the Intolerable Acts were created, it was the pivotal point for which the colonists realized they wanted power within their own hands. They began to fight for independence from Great Britain, which created patriotism towards the United States because they were fighting to create their own country. Next, John Locke, the abolition of slavery, and states’ rights are terms that reflect the movements that challenged people to question the government.

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Oppressive actions such as the Boston Massacre heavily shook the general public’s view of their British rulers. Unfair policies such as the Stamp Act, in which colonists were forced to pay taxes on almost all paper goods, further agitated unrest in the colonies. If it wasn’t for a mix of oppressive actions and overbearing policies, the Revolution likely would not have gained enough traction to sway the views of the general public, and likely Thomas Jefferson would not have had enough support to write the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson not only used the Declaration of Independence to announce the United States secession from the British Empire, but he also used it to express all of the injustices he saw against colonist’s natural

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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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The over taxed, under represented people of America needed a strong declaration showing their resolve to be free from Britain. Without the strength of The Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson’s writing, the Revolution against Britain may not have been as successful and could have potentially affected modern day life negatively. This powerful document still has importance in the lives of Americans years after Thomas Jefferson wrote The Declaration of Independence. Thomas Paine’s Essay, despite the importance of, does not compare to The Declaration of Independence.

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Many, if not all, Americans today continue to cherish the Declaration of Independence, hailing it as one of the most significant artifacts in national history. “It speaks of liberty from Great Britain and sets the framework for the United States of America,” they may explain. This mindset, however, has intensified over the past year, its believers resorting to calls for major control against outsiders seeking a better life and bellowing their disdain for international assistance, yet another resurgence of hegemonic jingoism in the land that is “made for you and me.” Said pseudo patriots also continue to share a consensus regarding the right of revolution, in which they may rebel should the government turn to tyranny or fail to serve the public.

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This was the beginning of a new era of independence. On July 1, 1776, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence and it was pronounced as a lawful concession to July 2, 1776 . I was intrigued to discover that the first draft was unsuccessful because of its included slaves; the second draft passed after the removal of slaves being comprised. The sole reason for the Declaration of Independence to grant equal rights to all mankind, freedom, and happiness. In the United States, historians and the broader public have, for most of the past two centuries, looked at the American Revolution principally as the first step in the creation of the American nation .

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The American Revolution, a pivotal moment in world history, was solely fueled by tangible grievances like taxes and military presence. More fundamentally, it was ignited by a spark within the minds of the colonists – the revolutionary ideals of the Enlightenment. These ideas, emphasizing individual liberties, limited government, and the consent of the governed, profoundly challenged the prevailing hierarchical structure and sowed the seeds of discontent with British rule. The colonists, deeply influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Montesquieu, began questioning the traditional order, which placed them under the absolute authority of the British Crown. The concept of natural rights – inherent and inalienable rights possessed

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In some ways, reading the American Declaration of Independence can feel like a “John Locke’s Greatest Hits” essay, with many of it’s key points directly borrowed from the Second Treatise of Government. It might even have been appropriate for Thomas Jefferson to have included a Works Cited or Bibliography page, given how much of the Declaration is the accumulation of the works of the era’s foremost philosophers and thinkers. The Declaration of Independence premises itself on the notions of the legitimacy of governments and the consent of the governed, both of which are central tenants of the political philosophy of John Locke. The parallels between the Declaration and the works of John Locke can best be seen in this statement from paragraph two: “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.--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

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When a group of people face adversity and insist on change, despite the occurring oppression, we will always rise to the challenge to demand what is rightfully ours. The history of our people throughout the world is riddled with stories like such, heroism and defeat stains the pages of history books. However, every cry for revolution is one heard around the world, yet not all of us revel in the feeling of community to render oppressive behavior extinct. The United States of America rests upon foundations of freedom and equality, without this foundation the authenticity of our mission and our morals become scrutinized. The Declaration of Independence portrays how the founders of this nation felt about Britain’s tyranny, as well as separating

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Many circumstances have, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested (Paine, 1776)”. Thomas Paine disagrees with the British government and the way they handling business he encouraged Americas to declare their independence. The Declaration of independence was a documented created by Thomas Jefferson that announced the split from the colonies and Great Britain, it. The Declaration of Independence states “we hold these…all men are created equal...with certain unalienable rights...that when any form of government becomes destructive... It is the right of the people to alter or abolish it (Jefferson, 1776)”.

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The ideals of liberty and freedom of the American Revolution are evidently demonstrated in the Declaration of Independence. When the leaders signed the Declaration of Independence, their motive was to be completely free from British rule. They wanted their civil liberties to be restored. The revolution against the British was a success no doubt. However, the American Revolution ultimately failed to achieve the ideals of liberty and freedom set forth by its leaders.

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Upholding the Declaration of Independence: A Critical Analysis After the Revolutionary War, The United States needed a form of government to continue ruling after a successful yet costly conflict. During wartime, the Continental Congress met, drafted a Declaration of Independence from Britain, and attempted to carry out the actions of an independent ruling party. The true test of the American Revolution and the success of the new found government would be the strength and viability of any governing body. Unfortunately, the first attempt at a constitution, the Articles of Confederation, would unsuccessfully uphold the ideals that colonists held so dear in the Declaration of Independence, mainly due to its lack of central power.

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The Declaration Of Independence was an image all colonists wanted to live up to. They wanted all men equal, and the government to be fair. The American Revolution was a political upheaval that took place between 1765 and 1783.The Declaration stated all of this and the colonists said it would be. After securing enough votes for the passage, independence was voted for on July 2nd. The Declaration Of Independence, drafted largely by Thomas Jefferson, marked the formation of a new sovereign nation, which called itself the United States Of America.

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It also brings the quarrel with England from a political dispute to a very large event. It implies that America’s situation has problems with moral legitimacy. The introduction identifies the purpose of the Declaration; to declare the causes of America breaking off from England. The preamble outlines a general philosophy of government that makes revolution justifiable.

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