Declaration of Independence

No. Alexander Hamilton faught in the Revolutionary Army, served as an aid-de camp for George Washinton, and eventually became the firt Secretary of the Treasury. However, he was not a prominent political figure during the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence occurred at high noon on July 8, 1776, in the Old State House yard in Philadelphia (what is now Independence Hall).

So begins the Declaration of Independence. But what was the Declaration? Why do Americans continue to celebrate its public announcement as the birthday of the United States, July 4, 1776? While that date might just mean a barbecue and fireworks to some today, what did the Declaration mean when it was written in the summer of 1776?

On the one hand, the Declaration was a formal legal document that announced to the world the reasons that led the thirteen colonies to separate from the British Empire. Much of the Declaration sets forth a list of abuses that were blamed on King George III. One charge levied against the King sounds like a Biblical plague: "He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance."

The Declaration was not only legalistic, but practical too. Americans hoped to get financial or military support from other countries that were traditional enemies of the British. However, these legal and pragmatic purposes, which make up the bulk of the actual document, are not why the Declaration is remembered today as a foremost expression of the ideals of the Revolution.

The Declaration's most famous sentence reads: "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." Even today, this inspirational language expresses a profound commitment to human equality.

This ideal of equality has certainly influenced the course of American history. Early women's rights activists at Seneca Falls in 1848 modeled their "Declaration of Sentiments" in precisely the same terms as the Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident," they said, "that all men and women are created equal." Similarly, the African-American anti-slavery activist David Walker challenged white Americans in 1829 to "See your Declaration Americans! Do you understand your own language?" Walker dared America to live up to its self-proclaimed ideals. If all men were created equal, then why was slavery legal?

The ideal of full human equality has been a major legacy (and ongoing challenge) of the Declaration of Independence. But the signers of 1776 did not have quite that radical an agenda. The possibility for sweeping social changes was certainly discussed in 1776. For instance, Abigail Adams suggested to her husband John Adams that in the "new Code of Laws" that he helped draft at the Continental Congress, he should, "Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them." It didn't work out that way.

King George III showed signs of madness. He likely suffered from porphyria, a disease of the blood leading to gout and mental derangement.

Thomas Jefferson provides the classic example of the contradictions of the Revolutionary Era. Although he was the chief author of the Declaration, he also owned slaves, as did many of his fellow signers. They did not see full human equality as a positive social goal. Nevertheless, Jefferson was prepared to criticize slavery much more directly than most of his colleagues. His original draft of the Declaration included a long passage that condemned King George for allowing the slave trade to flourish. This implied criticism of slavery - a central institution in early American society - was deleted by a vote of the Continental Congress before the delegates signed the Declaration.

So what did the signers intend by using such idealistic language? Look at what follows the line, "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 becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

These lines suggest that the whole purpose of government is to secure the people's rights and that government gets its power from "the consent of the governed." If that consent is betrayed, then "it is the right of the people to alter or abolish" their government. When the Declaration was written, this was a radical statement. The idea that the people could reject a monarchy (based on the superiority of a king) and replace it with a republican government (based on the consent of the people) was a revolutionary change.

While the signers of the Declaration thought of "the people" more narrowly than we do today, they articulated principles that are still vital markers of American ideals. And while the Declaration did not initially lead to equality for all, it did provide an inspiring start on working toward equality.

The Declaration of Independence was like an announcement to other nations. It explained to them why the colonists felt the need to break from Great Britain.

who was the declaration of independence written by

Jefferson's views on slavery were contradictory: On one hand, Jefferson was morally opposed to slavery. He felt it was evil and wrong. His original draft of the Declaration of Independence condemned it in no uncertain terms. As Governor of Virginia, he proposed legislation to abolish it. On the other hand, despite his moral opposition though, he owned a significant number of slaves and even fathered children with one of his slaves, Sally Hemmings.

they were free thinkers trying to escape opression by taking advantage of tha freeland. all those loopholes and special rules that no one understnds why it was worded like that.. they did that on purpose. they were raised in catholic and orthodox societies so all they wanted to do was to enjoy life. they had never heard of any real religions other than theirs that wernot explained in a barbaric way, so they made up their own philosophy without realizing they were repeting wat other cultures have alrede thot up of. but now they accept all the other pagan religions as corrct

One of his principle ideas was the contemporary theory of mind, which is cited as being the origin of concepts of identity and the self, and influenced later philosophers such as Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant. It was to lead to the foundations of the philosophical concept of empiricism. Contrary to previous Cartesian philosophy, which was based upon pre-existing concepts, Locke postulated that at birth our minds are in a blank state, or 'tabula rasa'. Contrary to Cartesian ideas on this subject, he maintained that our knowledge is derived only from experience derived from self-perception. His political beliefs were liberal, but not Socialist- he was in favour of separating Church from State, and believed that human nature is characterised by reason and tolerance, but that it also allowed people to be selfish. He believed that all people had a right to equality, liberty, happiness and independence, and that in order to defend these ri9ghts revolution was not sometimes only essential but an obligation, although he favoured social and political change by non-violent means and established a Civil Society, to effect social and political change as an intermediary between the people and the State. His beliefs parted from Socialism in that he believed that ownership of private goods was justified by the labour required to produce them, and that property precedes Government which 'cannot dispose of the estates of the subjects arbitrarily'. He was also an investor in the slave-trade via the Royal African Company, and supported the displacement of native American Indians from their ancestral lands, which has led to him being charged with hypocrisy and double-standards. He believed in religious tolerance, being influenced by Baptist theologians such as John Smyth and Thomas Helwys, arguing that it was impossible to prove the superiority of one religion over another, and that attempts to impose religious uniformity can only inevitably lead to violence. His religious beliefs are largely accepted today as revolving around Socinian Christology, although research into his works carried out in the past 30 years suggest towards the end of his life he was inclining more towards Arian Christianity. Voltaire, Jean-Jaques Rousseau, and also the 3rd US President Thomas Jefferson, were amongst his greatest admirers, but he drew criticism from Descartes, parted company from Thomas Hobbes over a number of issues, and was criticised for his philosophies of apparent support for Capitalism by Karl Marx. His principle contributions to philosophy have centred around the human concept of the self and it's relationship to religion- for more details on Locke's ideas, the Wikipedia page about him is to be recommended.

it was created by the continental congress

The first person to sign the Declaration of Independence, written to declare independence from Britain, was John Hancock. DID YOU KNOW...? People now call a persons signature their John Hancock because, when Hancock signed the document, he wrote it so big "so that the king can read it without aid of spectacles".
John Hancock is generally regarded as the first signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Steven Harper

Thomas Jefferson was the man who wrote these words on the Declaration of Independence. However, this was derived from John Locke's ideas of "life, liberty, and property". Property meant a man's estate.

The Declaration of Independence is on display in the Charters of Freedom Rotunda in the National Archives and Records Administration

700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20408-0001 The National Archives Building is located between Seventh and Ninth Streets, NW, with entrances on Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues

He claimed to have suggested the phrase, "self evident" in place of Jefferson's original, "sacred and undeniable." Michael Montagne

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 becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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, and to provide new Guards for their future security. 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 becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

They got put to death by being hung. But few if any actually were hung. These folks were called Loyalists.

In the American Revolutionary Period, the American colonists addressed their concerns to the British king (and government) in the Declaration of Independence in a variety of ways. First, they appealed to what they articulated as natural laws and basic truths for humankind, demonstrating to their satisfaction that a people unjustly governed is a people fully justified in revolution. Second, they spoke directly of the abuses of the British 'crown,' detailing the many ways in which British rule over the colonies had overstepped its rightful bounds and otherwise invited revolution upon itself.

I don't know. That's why i asked you. And I have and F in science. Kill me now. fml.

The Declaration of Independence.

Unjust. Thos. Jefferson wrote that a litte rebellion every now and then was a good thing, and the Dec. of Indep. suggested it. If the government gets lousy, the people have a right to revolt and change it. Unfortunately, his advice has not been followed.

umm he like had a bunch of soilders i guess

improvement : He didn't had any solders since he was pretty much a slave. He was one of the first people to die in the war, patriots, and that angered lots of people.

A careful reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution clearly show a tone of solemnity and telltale merging of two metaphysical concepts, that of God (The Great Spirit) and freedom and individualism, so peculiar and unique to the Iroquois and later the proponents of the Revolutionary War. The tone and philosophical underpinnings of the founders

George 3 is crowned

The Boston Massacre

The Intolerable Acts

The Declaration Of Independece

•To be self evident

•all men (and women) are created equally

•among us are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

- I hope that is what you needed

There was no executive under the Articles of Confederation because the Founding Fathers feared the return of tyranny. The Founding Fathers were very cautious not to create a new "king"- that was exactly why they had separated from England. so as a result, there was no executive to carry out the laws passed by Congress. This lack of a leader caused much confusion.

It started on July 4th, 1776. That was the first Independence Day for the United States of America.

The date July 4th has been around for a much longer time.

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 becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.