Skip to main content

What is revolutionary about the rights laid out in the Declaration of Independence?

Democracies had existed before in history.  Classical Athens had a democracy.  Republics were also popular throughout history as well--most of the Founding Fathers looked to Rome as a model for their government.  What made the Declaration of Independence so unique was that it said that three basic rights--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--were given to everyone from birth.  Unlike Athens and Rome, there were to be no class distinctions in America.  While Thomas Jefferson...

Democracies had existed before in history.  Classical Athens had a democracy.  Republics were also popular throughout history as well--most of the Founding Fathers looked to Rome as a model for their government.  What made the Declaration of Independence so unique was that it said that three basic rights--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--were given to everyone from birth.  Unlike Athens and Rome, there were to be no class distinctions in America.  While Thomas Jefferson did own slaves and nearly everyone agreed that the Declaration of Independence did not apply towards women, Native Americans, and African-Americans, the document was unique in that it gave the same rights to all free men.  


Another thing that was unique and even dangerous was that the Declaration of Independence gave the people the right to overthrow their government when it was not responsive to the needs of the people.  Jefferson even lays out the case for this when he describes British practices of arbitrary taxation and quartering soldiers in the colonies.  By giving the people the right to choose their own government, Jefferson implied that government exists for the people, not people for the government.  Of course, Jefferson follows up his proclamation that the people have the right to overthrow their government with the word "prudence," which means that the people should not undertake this responsibility lightly.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more