Declaration of Independence

The emergences of new nations can all be marked by the same common occurrences: military rebellion, civil rivalry, heroism acts, treachery and contention between the new ideas and the old. The founding of the United States of America included all of these happenings. The immensity of the naissance of America was unique not only because it’s impact on world history and the expansion of a democratic state, But because the ideals our country runs on can be traced back to come together in one place and in one document, the Declaration of Independence. The ideas articulated in the Declaration of Independence are the foundation of a particularly American perplexity which defines both our triumphs and our failures even today.

In 1776 the Second Continental Congress of Philadelphia quarreled on the idea of American independence and questioned whether or not the American colonies should declare their separation and freedom from the United Kingdom of Great Britain. After an intense debate, on July 2, 1776 the delegates voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence. On July 4^th, the Congress formally approved the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson on behalf of the five-person committee appointed by Congress.

The Declaration of Independence was immediately printed and distributed through the newly proclaimed United States. It was instantly recognized by citizens that the document expressed broadly held ideas about the appropriate purposes of government and the rights of individuals. Jefferson acknowledged his work as "intended to be an expression of the American mind".

The Declaration can be divided into four main parts. The first is an introduction that states the purpose, which was to explain why the American people were declaring their independence from the British government.

The second part is a theory of a beneficial government and generally accepted rights of Americans. These rights are not granted by government; rather they are inherited by human nature. Therefore, the purpose of a useful government is to carry out and secure these rights. Furthermore, a good government is based on the consent of those being governed (the people), who are the main source of the governments authority. The people are given the right to overthrow the government is they persistently violate this theory.

The third part is a list of grievances against King George III who represented the British government. These included examples of actions that violated the criteria for a good government stated in part two of the Declaration of Independence. This section justified the separation from the Kings monarchy and the establishment of a good government to replace it.

The last part of the document is a claim of domination by the United States. It proclaims the determination of Americans to defend and maintain their independence and rights.

The Declaration of Independence offers insight as to what the definition of an American is. As a true American you are inherited by human nature the rights present in the Declaration. You are provided a government to carry out and protect those rights. In addition you have the ability to elect that government. These ideas and allowances are particularly American and rarely granted in other countries.

In light of the Declaration, America has suffered many triumphs and failures. A major part of American society following the Declaration is the fact that all citizens are given freedom. Still, to this day, freedom is not offered to all people of the world. Ideas of the Declaration set off a whole new way of living that is strictly American. It sparked the development of many other ideas and grants that are only given in our country. The Declaration of Independence set the foundation of the struggles for equal justice among citizens, including minorities and women. This argument eventually led to equality among all American citizens. Abolishing the idea of slavery and discrimination against women was a massive accomplishment for Americans.

Many other countries resent Americans for the ideals we live under presented in the Declaration. Because these rights are an everyday part of our life we often take them for granted forgetting that there are other parts of our world not living with the same civil liberties. At the same time other countries are envious of American society and strive to live under the same privileges. The Declaration of Independence has global significance because it set a standard for liberty and justice under law to which all people in the world may aspire. Because of America’s example, there is now a global prospect for democracy and individual rights granted to all. On June 24, 1826, Jefferson wrote, "May it be to the world what I believe it will be, to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all, the signal . . . to assume the blessings and security of self-government . . . All eyes are opened or opening to the rights of man".

In conclusion, the American triumphs because of the Declaration of Independence prevail over our failures in light of it. While the ideals of the Declaration are particularly American, America has become a model for other countries which aspire to live with the same constitutional rights as ourselves. Eventually an ideal world would live under the standards granted in the American Declaration.