1. The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to announce and stress the separation of the thirteen colonies to Great Britain. The tone was extremely straightforward, direct, and critical. They wanted to make sure that King George III and Britain understood its terms of severance from the mother country. The speaker of the Declaration would include both, the population of the colonies (or the new United States of America) and Thomas Jefferson, the main writer of the declaration.
2. Throughout the draft, we see that many lines have changed completely or extended to include some variation of the word, “separate”, for the editors comprised in the Continental Congress chose to put a spotlight on this particular word to repeat and reinstate
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that the United States wants nothing to do with Britain. It is also seen that the word, “dissolve” is added within the writing because it deems that the new nation is completely “one” (another change made from “a” to “one”) and autonomous. Because the Congress wanted to be anything but vague through the declaration to Britain, there were also a few changes made to transcribe the true meaning of rights they fought to acquire. For example, instead of writing, “that from equal creation they derive in rights inherent and inalienable,” they wrote, “that they are endowed by their creator with inherent and inalienable rights” to show that every man had God-given rights to be independent. They wanted to make it clear that Britain had failed the citizens of the colonies, and by making a few small changes to magnify the rights of the people, they were able to get that point across. 3. The phrase “self-evident” has an immense effect on the entirety of the declaration because it essentially proclaims that there is zero question that people have basic rights and no one can challenge them, for they were “endowed by their creator”. Although the first draft’s phrase, “sacred and undeniable” was an okay choice, “self-evident” really creates an idealism of freedom and God-given liberties and enforces the idea that all men were equal. By writing “self-evident” it allows no room for debating of the obvious “truths” obtained by the population. The change to “self-evident” defines rights to be obvious and clear. 4. ETHOS- The phrase “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World” and how they heavily depend “on the protection of divine Providence” shows how the author(s) of the declaration in a sense, draw to God whom is guiding them. They further this notion by proving they are of honest, willing, and well bred men that would do anything for the freedom of the colonies which makes them credible to the new nation. PATHOS- An example of the pathos appeal is found in the phrase, “A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people”. This example stimulates possible anger from the colonists because they want no part in oppressive government or absolute power. By saying this, the colonists are also overwhelmed with possible patriotism for the new country because everyone is practically on the same page, for everyone agrees on having a democratic government. LOGOS- 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”. This evidence of the appeal of logos provides the declaration with logical reasoning to show that all of United State’s inhabitants can fight for freedom, even if that means going against the government, which is a main idea throughout the paper. Because the U.S. residents were in a state of allegiance and nationalism, the logistics of Jefferson’s writings about liberties to go against a tyrannical government, resonates heavily with the intended audience. 5.
“We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction”- The word, unwarrantable, has a negative connotation because it defines the British government actions upon the colonies as unjustifiable.
“They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.”-Deaf is a loaded word because it’s interpreting Britain as unjust and not attentive towards the thirteen colonies, so this creates a negative connotation because the Colonists are again, angry at Britain and its hostility towards the colonies.
“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”- Liberty is another loaded word, for it has a positive connotation because everyone in the United States were craving freedom and
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independence. “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”- Honor is a loaded word and has a positive connotation because it defines the writers as honorable and worthy of peoples’ respect. “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes”- The word, dictate, is also a loaded word and has a negative connotation because the new nation is steering clear from anything under a dictatorship or tyrant. 6.
To make sure the reader is still engaged, Jefferson uses parallel structure in regards to the idea that are extremely important in terms of rights and turning away from Britain. For example Jefferson’s main idea was “We hold these truths to be self-evident”. Jefferson writes, “that all men are created equal”, “that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights”, and “that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it” to exemplify the level of importance of that same thought. Also, he focuses on the idea that Britain and King George III was corrupt and that his actions were intolerable. By utilizing parallel structure, he included more phrases to dwell on that fact, such as, “He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for public good” and that “He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants
only.” 7. The duration of the grievances explains the sole reasons for rebelling and revolutionizing against King George III and Britain, in short. It discusses how the British government treated the thirteen colonies unfairly, for there were unjust trade policies, forceful British armies weaving there way into colonial life in an untimely manner, one-sided trials by jury, the absence of a representative government, the interference of certain processes disliked by the colonists by King George. One of the most substantial grievances is that they argued that they had no right to self-rule under the tyrannical king and that there was British authority over the colonists’ elected authority. They also go on to mention the physical violence taken by the British upon the colonies to stop rebellion. All in all, the grievances were to pinpoint most of the injustices made by the king and what the repercussions of them were on the colonists. 8. At the time, the declaration of independence was innovative in saying that governments were supposed to be supporting the God-given rights of all men. Not all countries were enjoying those freedoms, so the declaration was pointing out that that was what they were after all along, for Britain should have recognized that. The rhetorical purpose of those truths, in my opinion, is irony, because Britain hasn’t awarded the colonies with rights, but they protested that they had already acquired those rights, for everyone did by birth under God.
He thought that this was because the British did not honor the rights of colonists.
...no loyalty to the Crown now, in future conflicts, the colonists may turn against us and become our enemy. Radical action must be taken in order to regulate their behavior. They must recognize the royal authority.
Thomas Paine constructs Common Sense as an editorial on the subject of the relationship between the Colonies and Great Britain. Through the paper, he hopes to educate his fellow Americans about this subject. In his introduction, he says he feels that there is 'a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong'; which 'gives it a superficial appearance of being right'; (693). He is alluding to the relationship, also calling it a 'violent abuse of power'; (693). This choice of words is similar to those of Jefferson, who asserts that the king had established an 'absolute tyranny'; over the states. Both men set an immediate understanding about their feelings towards the rule of Great Britain over the States. However, where Common Sense seems to be an opinionated essay, Thomas Jefferson writes somewhat of a call to battle. Paine generally seems to be alerting his readers to the fact that there is more going on than they are aware of. Jefferson, on the other hand, begins his declaration by stating, 'When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another'; (715). Unlike Paine, this seems to presuppose that readers are aware of the plight of the nation, and Jefferson is announcing that the time has come to take a stand.
The Declaration was for the colonists to seek for independence. The quote most widely known is “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”(Jefferson) The Declaration of Independence was written mostly by Thomas Jefferson who stated the above quote. Like the Declaration of Sentiments, all men are created equal. The Declaration of Independence allows the people to have the right to abolish an proposition that they do not agree with. They also have the right to institute a new government if they do not feel it is not ensuring safety and happiness to everyone; they can vote in a government who will ensure this. It is also the peoples right to throw out a government when laws are abused. Every year on July 4, people in the United States celebrate Independence day, also known as the Fourth of
The language used in Common Sense is that of a leader hoping to inspire his followers to heed his warning and answer his call. Paine's audience was the people of the colonies, he wanted them to realize that the oppression of the crown has not limit and sure there were benefits of belonging to the crown, there were far more oppression beyond measure that comes with such benefits.
...erall, Great Britain wanted to rule colonies to benefit themselves and only concerned for their own welfare and not that of the American people.
In 1774, Jefferson wrote “A Summary View of the Rights of British America”, in which he claimed that the colonies were tied to the king only by voluntary bonds of loyalty. The “Summary View of the Rights of British America” was published without Jefferson’s permission. This document was presented as a political pamphlet. It was taking Jefferson’s career to a whole another level, way further than
The drive to end slavery in the United States was a long one, from being debated in the writing of the Declaration of Independence, to exposure of its ills in literature, from rebellions of slaves, to the efforts of people like Harriet Tubman to transport escaping slaves along the Underground Railroad. Abolitionists had urged President Abraham Lincoln to free the slaves in the Confederate states from the very outset of the Civil War. By mid-1862, Lincoln had become increasingly convinced of the moral imperative to end slavery, but he hesitated (History.com). As commander-in-chief of the Union Army, he had military objectives to consider (History.com). On one hand, emancipation might
These differences were the seed of a sectional division that would plague the nation for a century. During the late seventeenth century, this fissure in the ideals of the colonies became apparent. Following the constant political irreverence from Britain, a majority of colonial representatives felt the need for independence. The Declaration of Independence was the document written to do this. It called for an abolition of slavery as well as freedom from British rule.
The Declaration of Independence cut the political connections between the thirteen original colonies and Great Britain. By declaring independence, the American colonists were able to forge an official alliance with France and obtained French assistance in the war against Britain. The Purpose of the declaration was to explain why congress had voted, July 2nd 1776, to declare their independence from Great Britain, over a year after the American Revolutionary war began.
Although, from the british perspective the Americans were just being completely unpractical and attempting to take advantage of the situation. The Salutary neglect is to blame for such hostility because it is the reason colonists came to practice the freedoms they were now so reluctant to give up. It’s like the old saying says” when the cat's away the mice play.” This is exactly what the Americans did whenever England turned it’s back and went to
The purpose was to justify the revolution of the “new” colonies. Many of the people were excited for the plan. The American people had thrived for the freedom, and to establish the government for themselves. The Declaration has three parts to the document. The first part was the Declaration of Natural Rights. This explained the basic human rights for each American citizen. The entire document is centered around how each person is equal, and it has been given by God. The second part of the document is composed of lists of grievances. This section listed complaints about the ruler of Great Britain at the time, George III. This, of course, spoken against the ideas of the king, and the ideas of a overpowering monarchy. The third part of the document was the resolution, or conclusion. The resolution concluded that the colonists have officially broken away from Great Britain. With the closing part, the colonists had officially separated from Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence first step was to separate the colonies into states and establish the authorities that will be in control over the
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.
There are many important factors in the Declaration of Independence, which enable the foundation of a new government. These range from describing grievances with England, to how government should be run differently, to the first statement of separation. The first step to the foundation of a new government is the uniting of a people in a common goal. Since all people were feeling violated by English soldiers, it was necessary to state these grievances in order to make people aware that they are not alone. When people learned that others felt the same as them emotion was stirred. The Declaration of Independence listed the grievances such as, “He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.” The next important step to the foundation of a new government was to gain peoples ambition by showing how the government would be run if a new party took over. This goal was achieved by stating the rights of man. “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.” This statement made people hopeful and feel kindly toward this new government. The final step in the preparation for a new government was separation from the old government. This was declared twice in the Declaration of Independence. In the beginning, “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, driving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” and in the end, “that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence was able to motivate people, give them ambition, and made it simple for Americans to take action.
The Declaration of Independence was written to declare that the thirteen colonies were claiming themselves as independent states. Then U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights were written. These important papers spell out freedoms guaranteed to Americans and the laws that protect those freedoms. They talk of a government that works for the people.