The Five Elements Of The Declaration Of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is a familiar, symbolic title to the American people. But exactly what weight does this title bear? And for what reason was The Declaration of Independence written? This paper hopes to answer these questions by delving deeper than common knowledge on the document’s intents and purposes. Americans of the United States may often forget what the true history is behind such a recognizable part of our founding. Much of the nobility and virtuous sentiment remembered and quoted by many Americans today is in fact, fallacy; in this paper, we will investigate the productive words of the Declaration of Independence, while steering through the purposeless righteous rambles, by dissecting the five elements of the document …show more content…
This fact no doubt brings up speculations regarding the purpose and validity of excerpts such as this within The Declaration of Independence. Commonly touted as a document written for all the most honorable reasons – equality, freedom, independence – the drafters behind the document must have been focusing on a slightly different objective. Thomas Jefferson was most likely not considering his lessers in the transcription of this text; colonists were concerned about their own independence from Britain and fighting a passionate war across New England. The candied sentiments written in the Preamble about “Pursuing Happiness” and such liberties undoubtedly give a more admirable vibe than would a full text of aggressive jabs and hostility towards the readers. Following these virtuous sovereign principles is a list of charges against King George III, and a conclusion (Heritage Fdn.). The colonists were seeking both recognition of self-government and worldly criticism of King George III of Britain, wrapping it all up in noble …show more content…
The Declaration was not the first production by colonists seeking independence from Britain, nor was it the official document that influenced the vote of the Continental Congress to separate from Britain (Armitage, 2007; Becker, 1922). In fact, what Becker calls the Resolution of Independence, is the first principle document on independence that Continental Congress voted on in July of 1776 (Becker, 1922). Seemingly, the sole intention of the Declaration of Independence was as a formal announcement of an already accomplished endeavor of independence. The Declaration is awarded the most celebrity over other, more effectual historical proclamations most likely because of the glamorous writing and glorified sentiments of Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence is undoubtedly a noteworthy piece of Revolutionary history, but this paper does not support the idea that The Declaration was the document to conjure independence from Britain. Rather, this paper supports other scholarly opinions, based on historical facts – not popular ignorance – which argues that The Declaration of Independence was merely an elegantly written embellishment for the colonists to present to the world their already accomplished