Declaration Of Independence Essay (Edited) PDF

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Declaration Of Independence Essay...

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The founding fathers distinguished the Declaration of Independence with the foresight that government power should not be in the hands of the individual and the idea of separating church and state. The framers were influenced by the American culture and the ideology that every individual can prosper from personal hard work. This belief brought fear to the British crown, which inevitably led to the king placing rules and taxations on the colonies, solidifying the eagerness in the colonies to separate from British rule. Furthermore, Americans were inspired by philosophical ideologies expressing that governments should revolve around the individual instead of those in power. The drafters of the Declaration of Independence were significantly influenced by the history, culture, economics and philosophical ideologies at the time, which can still be seen in contemporary American culture today. Before the formation of the Declaration of Independence, kings were trustfully followed based on a supernatural belief that they were lawfully chosen by a higher power, granting these leaders divine right, being subject to no earthly authority and having complete power over all. Repeated all throughout past history, one would be pronounced king by the means of birthright or through battle. It was not until 1215 with the establishment of the Magna Carta, the first document to ever limit the power of a king, where all would be subject to the law, even the king. This charter of liberties greatly influenced the founding fathers in writing the Declaration of Independence by demonstrating that power can and must be limited by law. In addition, the authors were concerned by the great influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Looking back on Henry VIII and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, both were exemplary for being excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church - because of situational circumstances in keeping the church separate from parliament. With the Roman Catholic Church having such an immense influence on parliament, the founding fathers affirmed that government must be separate from religion,

stating that all men are created equal and acquire unalienable rights, giving no man godly rule over all. American culture in 1776 influenced the writers of the Declaration of Independence, as this individualistic idea of life itself was much different than that of other nations. The authors believed that American culture should be applied to the political system in that no authority should be inherited, instead earned by the trust of the American people and governed by the authority of the law. Colonists stood strong in their belief that it was their birthright or destiny to civilize and expand westward, and that every man had the right to do so. This individualism sparked the rise of Republicanism, making decisions separate from the king, and that with a strong protestant work ethic there are no limitations on property or the life one wishes to achieve. The prosperity of the American colonies rested in agriculture and the commerce of crafts and trades. The British crown grew concerned that they were losing control over the American colonies. This fear led to the crown placing multiple unreasonable rules and regulations upon the colonies. The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first direct tax to be levied on the colonies from the British, which required a taxed stamp on all papers issued by the colonies. The underlying reason for this act was to replenish the debt in which the British accumulated during the Seven Years’ War with the French. Also, the British Government enforced the Quartering Act of 1765, requiring colonists to house British soldiers. Colonists believed that both of these acts were unfair and unjust. The British government continued to place laws and taxations upon the Americans, resulting in acts of rebellion, eventually leading to the Boston Massacre of 1770 and the Boston Tea Party of 1773. These rebellious acts caused the crown to feel less in control, resulting in the Massachusetts Bay Regulation Act and The Administration of Justice Act of 1774. These acts gave the British Government not only control over the actions of the judge in

Massachusetts, but also stripped the rights to a fair trial for any offenders of the crown. The limitations placed on the colonies from the British government, greatly influenced the authors of the Declaration of Independence and increased the value of republicanism in the American colonies. The “Age of Enlightenment” was prevalent during this time, influencing the framers by the philosophical ideologies focusing not solely on government, but primarily on the individual. The notion of individualism stems deeply from the writings of philosophers at the time. John Locke was an English philosopher and physician who first conceptualized the idea of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in his writing of Two Treatises on Government - which influenced Thomas Jefferson’s writing of the document. Furthermore, Locke also believed that the most important natural right was to that of property. Additionally, Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau influenced the idea that citizens and the government should work as a whole. Known for his belief that men are naturally good and it is the society in which they are raised in that makes them corrupt, the colonists reflected his individualistic ideas. With the American culture being so heavily focused on individualism and Republicanism, the notion that everyone’s voice should be heard was prevalent in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. In contemporary American society, we see that a great deal of the Declaration of Independence is still romanticized in both our political and individualistic views on humanity and government. Americans still hold the protestant ideals, that anything and everything can be achieved through hard work and dedication. With liberty being widespread in American culture, same is seen in the entitlements to own property. Our property is our privacy, an unalienable right in which we solely exchange on our own terms. In today’s culture, Americans still strongly

believe in liberty and the freedoms of the individual, which was also prevalent during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Ultimately, the founding fathers understood the importance of limiting governmental power and the separation of church and state. Influenced by the American culture at the time, the authors focused heavily on republicanism and the rights of the individual. Through the excessive British government control, the colonists found it significantly important to be free from the crown. In addition, philosophers gave new ideas on how a government should behave, which influenced the founding fathers away from monarchy, converging a united group of individuals working as a whole....