Declaration Of Independence Dbq Essay

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The ideals of the Declaration of Independence have been the most passionately discussed and debated ideas throughout American history. Equality, inalienable rights, the right to alter or abolish the government and the consent of government were the founding ideas of America. Every ideal in the Declaration is important in its own right, but the ideal of equality is the most important and foundational for our new way of life and has instilled the spirit of freedom in the hearts of Americans since its creation in 1776. The pursuit of equality is one of the reasons we broke away from England, why we are such a melting pot of new and interesting cultures and the reason we earned the name “The Land of the Free”.
When the American colonists chose to take on England and fight for their freedom and equality, they knew they were up against one of the strongest military powers at that time. The leaders of the revolution were keenly aware that if they not win, they would be prosecuted for treason and sentenced to death. They were no longer willing to accept that as
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Diana Pham, an immigrant from Vietnam, wrote, “Our two daughters are just finishing their university education at Stanford and Michigan which would never have been possible without this country’s belief in equality”(Document A, Diana Pham, Chicago, IL, July 2012). The founding principle of equality secured her daughters future. America continues to live up to another ideal that humans “are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights” (Document A, Declaration of Sentiments, Women’s Rights Convention, Seneca Falls, NY, 1848). The natural rights listed in the Declaration of Independence “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are still pursued today as many people like Pham’s daughters come here much like the Pilgrims did so long ago. The fight for equality must come first though so all citizens enjoy these inalienable

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