It was intended to be an expression of the american mind
No, the United States and Britain did not sign the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and it was primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson as a declaration of the American colonies' intent to separate from British rule. Britain, at the time, was opposed to the Declaration, viewing it as an act of rebellion.
Declaration of Independence
No, the Declaration of Independence is not a law making document. The US Constitution is the document that creates the laws that govern the US. The Declaration can only be used to help indicate the intent of the Constitution's framers, but does not create law.
The Declaration of Independence was a written statement to King George from the members of the Continental Congress of the Colonies establishing their intent to become a free nation separate from England's power.
The document that stated grievances against the King of Great Britain and declared the separation of the colonists from the king is the Declaration of Independence. Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, it outlined the colonists' frustrations with British rule and asserted their right to self-governance. The Declaration served as a formal statement of the colonies' intent to break away and establish themselves as an independent nation.
While it is important to remember that Jefferson himself was intent on reminding others that the Declaration was a group effort, not solely his own, one can describe succinctly the manner in which "he" presented its "call for independence." That call was made in plain language (if also somewhat sophisticated by most contemporary standards), with explicit use of lofty philosophical principles, and on the basis of a discernible socio-political history to which Jefferson, and all of the Founders, were intentionally adding a grand "experiment" in self-rule.
The Declaration of Independence is in fact connected to the Enlightenment movement which swept through western civilization beginning in the 17th century. With its emphasis upon reason, and choice, and the collective intent of free people in association, the Declaration is a clear expression of fundamental Enlightenment ideals and values.
A Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774) Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (1775) Memorandums taken on a journey from Paris into the southern parts of France and Northern Italy, in the year 1787 Notes on the State of Virginia (1781) Plan for Establishing Uniformity in the Coinage, Weights, and Measures of the United States A report submitted to Congress (1790) Manual of Parliamentary Practice for the Use of the Senate of the United States (1801) Autobiography (1821) Jefferson Bible, or The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth
The first line of the Declaration of Sentiments states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and women are created equal." The key phrases that are not present in the Declaration of Independence include "and women" and the emphasis on equality between genders. While the Declaration of Independence focuses on "all men," the Declaration of Sentiments explicitly addresses women's rights, highlighting the document's intent to advocate for gender equality.
Thomas Jefferson
In the last paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, the signers make a solemn pledge to each other to support their declaration with their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. This commitment underscores their unity and resolve to fight for their freedom and independence from British rule. The pledge signifies the seriousness of their intent and the sacrifices they are willing to make for the cause of liberty.
The intent of the Declaration of Independence was to peacefully request the freedom of the Colonies from English rule. We wished to become a nation independent from other countries with the right to create our own government. This would allow us to truly follow the intent to have religious freedom among other things, this being one of the major reasons many left Europe.