On April 27, 2015, I observed and became more knowledgeable to the artifact entitled the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence, between, June 11th and June 28, 1776, was created by a five person team (but did not originate from the committee) which included the following: Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, ad Roger Sherman. Livingston refused to sign the Declaration of Independence because he felt that it would not stand for anything at that time, or be of good standing, or beneficial to him. On July 8, 1776 the Declaration was signed in Philadelphia and was also viewed by the public for the first time on this day. It is proven that what we know as the Liberty Lee, a farmer from Westmoreland County, Virginia was appointed by the state along with Patrick Henry, and George Washington to successfully change American History. Thomas Jefferson made that possible by completing numerous of rough drafts that eventually created the Congress and constitutional rights of man; with the help of five other committee members, but mainly Ben Franklin and John Adams, the Declaration of Independence was presented to Congress in the Pennsylvania State House, which is now known as Independence Hall. In Jefferson 's words, the Declaration was written, "In order to place before mankind the common sense of the matter in terms as plain and simple as to command their With the determination of one man, Richard Lee Henry, he proposed the creating of the United States. During his lifetime he witnessed very crucial turning points for the thirteen colonies, the creating of, birth of, and the finalization of the United States. According to American History, “Richard Henry Lee aided in lighting the torch of American Freedom and kept it burning for his nation. From a farmer, to a politician, to congressman, to a statesman, to a patriot, to a senator, Richard Henry Lee performed a very important role in American history” (1994-2012). The Declaration of Independence caught my attention from the movie “National Treasure, (2004)”, the history that this document holds is unbelievable and how it was the origination of the United States is mind blowing. If the Declaration of Independence was not followed through with or signed, where would we be today? Life, Liberty, and happiness were a few key factors that society upheld for the making of the thirteen colonies in the United States, however, all man were to be treated equal and most importantly we as a country were to stand
The title of the document explains exactly what is in the document itself. Before the Declaration was even written, “the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia with the intention of voting for independence from England” (“Writing the Declaration”). Congress had the idea of selecting a group of people (a committee) to write out a document stating that the colonies were going to separate away from Great Britain and form a new nation. “The committee, composed of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman, in turn instructed Thomas Jefferson to write the declaration” (“Writing the Declaration”). Thomas Jefferson began work on June 11th and was able to finish writing by June 28th (“Writing the Declaration”). Imagine trying write a document for independence, creating a new nation, in such little
In the late afternoon on July 4th, the Congress finally approved the Declaration of Independence. The president of Congress, John Hancock signed it. After John Hancock signed it, it was official. On July 8th, the Declaration of Independence was read to Philadelphia. By July 15th, all thirteen states had read it and voted for it. On August 2nd, the final draft was the Declaration of Independence was written and signed by the members of Congress. Thomas Jefferson also signed his name.
Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of Independence." The McGraw-Hill Reader: Issues Across the Disciplines. 8th edition, Ed. Gilbert H. Muller. New York: McGraw Hill, 2003. 305-308.
Our Declaration of Independence, was penned most notably by Thomas Jefferson in response to the atrocities committed by the British Crown against the citizens of the American Colonies. At the time of the drafting of The Declaration, Jefferson was widely known to be a successful practitioner of Law as a lawyer, and an eloquent writer. It is due to this, that although Jefferson was a member of a five-man committee charged with drafting the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was tapped to be the main author.
Many Americans’ eyes were opened in 1776, when members of the Continental Congress drafted, signed, and published the famous document “The Declaration of Independence” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By declaring their independence, many of the colonists believed that slaves should have the same rights as the whites had. Abolition groups were formed, and the fight to end slavery begins.
In 1774, A Summary View of the Rights of British America was the first of Thomas Jefferson major political writings for the revolutionary debate. June of 1775 Thomas Jefferson took a seat in the Second Continental Congress that is when the revolution started. In June of 1776, he joined Benjamin Franklin and John Adams on the special committee to draft The Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was surprised to find himself at the head of the committee to prepare this paper. After Benjamin Franklin and John Adams went over the rough draft the Thomas Jefferson summited to them, they revised it and sent it to Congress. On July 4,1776, the Declaration Of Independence was signed and published.
There are many events that have happened in our history that have helped shape our country into what it is today. One of those events that helped change our country was the Decleration of Independance. The Declaration of Independence was written on July 4th, 1776. And this document was written so we were separate from England and so we weren’t under their power anymore. It meant that we were going to become a self-governing country. This was the very first big step we took to become our own country. And if we hadn’t have separated from England we wouldn’t be the country we are today. This helped build our nation and bring us closer together so we were united as one. This is when we realized we could be something bigger than what we were.
The Declaration has helped in many debates ranging from the banning of slavery to the acknowledgement of newly independent nations (Tsesis 3). In 1774 delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies gather in Philadelphia to meet at the First Continental Congress to decide what to do about the British laws. Most people wanted to fix the relationship with England instead of gaining their independence. The British leaders would have most likely been up to the idea of negotiating, but instead the American Revolution was started. Thomas Jefferson was not present at the first Congress. A month after the Second Continental Congress started, Jefferson took his seat as a delegate from Virginia. John Adams stated that Jefferson had “a reputation for literature, science, and a happy talent for composition” (8). Jefferson noticed that many people were not yet open to the idea of independence, they were still trying to stay with England. During this time Common Sense came out and paved the way for the Declaration of Independence. After Common Sense came out, Richard Price published a pamphlet which condemned parliamentary infringement on the colonists’ rights. This pamphlet became very popular and was in circulation in England and America. On April 12,1776 North Carolina became the first colony “to concur with the delegates of the other colonies in declaring Independency” (10). On May 15 Congress published a preamble which explained that the Americans planned to be removed from the rule of England. This was the first step to a real declaration of independence because it finally showed that America decided to gain their independence.
The American Declaration of Independence has affected the foundation of the United States more than any other event or document in American history. The Declaration of Independence was the basis for what the country was established on. The document was a way for the colonists to emancipate themselves from the cruelty of King George. This document had such an impacting effect because it was such a new way of bringing up concerns. It was the first of its kind in the history of America in the aspect of liberation of a group of people.
In May of 1776 a resolution was passed at the Virginia Convention in Williamsburg that asked the thirteen American colonies to declare the United Colonies free and independent from the British crown. At the second continental congress the resolution passed and on June 11, 1776 a five-man committee led by Thomas Jefferson was established to write the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776 the members of the second continental congress signed into existence one of the most influential documents in history.
When declaring independence, the bulk of the people thought that would be “…to burn the last bridge, to become traders in the eyes of the mother country.” (Garraty 110). John Dickinson had stated, “ ‘Torn from the body to which we are united by religion, liberty, laws, affections, relation, language and commerce, we must bleed at every vein.’ “ (Garraty 110). The people were afraid to break away, they pondered “ ‘Where shall we find another Britain.’ “ (Garraty 110). Eventually independence was inevitable. There was a great mistrust towards both Parliament and George III when the colonists heard that the British were sending hired Hessian soldiers to fight against them in the revolution. The pamphlet written by Thomas Paine entitled Common Sense called boldly for complete independence. This reflected his opinions on George III, calling him a brute, and also attacking the idea of monarchy itself. “Virtually everyone in the colonies must have read Common Sense or heard it explained and discussed.” (Garraty 110). John Adams dismissed it as something he had said time and time again. “The tone of the debate changed sharply as Paine’s slashing attack took effect.” (Garraty 110). A committee was appointed by Congress, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and many more. “The committee had asked Jefferson to prepare a draft” that would soon become known as the Declaration of Independence. (Garraty 112). It consisted of two parts: an introduction which justified the abstract right of any people to revolt and described the theory on which the Americans based their creation of a new, republican government, and a second part that made George III, rather than Parliament, look like the ‘bad guy’. “…The king was the personification of the nation against which the nation was rebelling.” (Garraty 112). “The Declaration was intended to influence foreign opinion, but it had little immediate effect outside Great Britain, and there it only made people angry and determined to subdue the rebels.
During the 1776 meeting of the second Continental Congress Jefferson wrote one of the most famous documents in American history, the Declaration of Independence. This document would become the basis for the writing of the Articles of Conferderation and eventually the United States Constitution.
Throughout history, only a few documents have changed the way we as a nation view politics and carry out our everyday lives. The document mentioned above was the Declaration of Independence. It changed the course of history because it granted America its freedom from Great Britain. Originally, there was a committee created to compose the document which consisted of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson. After conversing with one another, the committee decided that Thomas Jefferson would be the one to write it with the final approval coming from the other four. After writing it and receiving approval from the committee, Jefferson presented it to the House. What happened here was not what the committee originally expected. Not all of the delegates attending the convention approved the document. However, through compromising for the greater good of the “New Nation” and editing to accommodate everyone’s preferences, the document was finally approved by all thirteen colonies.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence for the American colonists to proclaim freedom from Great Britain's oppressor, King George III. American colonists had been suffering for many years when this important document was drafted. King George III had pushed the colonists into a state of tyranny and most decided it was time to start an independent nation under a different type of government. Jefferson focused his piece toward many audiences. He wanted not only King George III and the British Parliament to know the American's feelings, but also the entire world. The time had come for an immense change amongst the American colonists and Jefferson made sure everyone was aware of it by using his superior strategies of persuasion.
Intro: The Declaration of Independence shapes our ideal vision in America by letting every individual have unalienable rights, not having to live under a tyrant, and having equality. These rights are to be protected by one government that is willing to secure these rights for the people. Due to not being responsible towards the people’s happiness, this government will be overthrown and replaced with a new one in which the people will be satisfied with.