Declaration Of Independence Rationality

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The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, declared the newly formed American colonies free from British control and established a just government. After being subject to unfair rule of the British Empire, the document ensured that the colonists were not only “absolved from all allegiance to British Crown” (130), but that their God-given rights would be protected under a new, just government. The founding document is based upon the belief that all men are created equal, and are therefore guaranteed protection of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These principles served as the foundation of America, showing that the Declaration of Independence helped to create a country rooted in creedal ideas. Further showing …show more content…
Through reason and rationality, Jefferson concluded that “all men are created equal” (128) in respect to their God-given rights. He included this line in the Declaration of Independence, and it became the basic principle in founding the new American government. All people were guaranteed protection of their natural rights, contrary to the way they were being treated under while British rule. Jefferson’s belief in political equality was similar to that of English philosopher of the time, John Locke, who wrote that “individuals had rights derived from nature” (115). He believed that all people were born with entitlement to life, liberty, and property, which could not be taken away. This idea is presented in the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence, as it states that people are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights” (128). It is believed that these unalienable rights were given to the people by God, and therefore one does not have the moral right to give them up, nor does government have the power to take them away. This principle was crucial in declaring separation from Britain. The British Parliament was enforcing laws that did not respect the “self-evident truths” (128) which Jefferson believed the people were entitled to. Colonists desired independence from such rule, and the Declaration …show more content…
In the event that God-given rights are not upheld, people have the “power to alter, abolish, or institute new government if it affects their safety and happiness” (128). As Britain had recently passed laws that violated the “principles, ends, and purposes of government” (127), colonists were influenced to desire independence. In order to establish America as an independent state with a just government, Jefferson included a list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence. These grievances highlighted the flaws of British rule, showing that the king had “invaded on the rights of the people” (129). By proving unfair rule, the Declaration’s promise of just government was more clearly defined. A government that is based upon upholding and protecting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness was new to the colonists, unlike what they been experiencing. Recognizing the just qualities of the new government made the colonies “free and independent states” (130), and colonists were given a promising new start as they were guaranteed that their natural rights would not be infringed
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