Declaration of Independence: Multiple interpretations across centuries
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, which was (rework doesn't read well or really seem relavant>) amended somewhat both by committee and by Congress. It was a document that listed grievances most colonists held against the King of England and the British Parliament. In the document, Jefferson defines the purpose of government, identifies several inalienable rights that each individual possesses, and explains the obligation of the people when government fails to do its part. The reason that the Declaration of Independence came about was the colonists’ discontent over the policies which the British government implemented over its subjects. A major reason for such a move was “Taxation without Representation”, the idea that the colonists should have a say in matters that pertain to them was a popular one at the time. The document itself does a great job of presenting the belief that the colonists stood by and later listing instances where their rights were not protected. The Declaration of Independence would go on to inspire countless movements and its interpretation would change over the course of history. Here are some important social issues which required the interpretation of the Declaration of Independence to be modified. The progress of the interpretation of this document can be shown through three different activists, all drawing from the same document but fighting for different social groups. After some research, it becomes evident that Thomas Jefferson’s interpretation of the Declaration was different from Frederick Douglas’s which also differs from Elisabeth Stanton’s interpretation of the original document. With that in mind, one can infer that there is no right or wrong interpretation of the document since every reader ultimately comes up with his own understanding of the document and thus his own interpretation. When Thomas Jefferson wrote “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” He was largely representing the White landowners who expressed discontent with the British government in numerous instances at that time. At that time the King taxed the colonies, passed laws for them, trialed criminals, and allowed the quartering of troops in the new world, while refusing to allow the colonists to be represented in Parliament. When Jefferson spoke of equality, it becomes evident that his concern was establishing equality between the Colonists and people actually living in England who were actually represented in the Parliament. According to Jefferson, in order to protect these inalienable rights “Governments are instituted among Men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” And if the Government fails to do so, the people have the right to “alter or to abolish it and to institute a new Government.” This explains the actions taken by the colonists who believed it was their obligation to overthrow a government which became oppressive to them. This model would go on to inspire other activists in their own pursuit of equality. Several decades after the Declaration of Independence was written, Frederick Douglas preached another interpretation of the document. As a former slave, he had a first-hand account of the life for most African-Americans living in the South. Frederick Douglas was able to educate himself and eventually become an abolitionist, educating the public of the evils of slavery and advocating a push for equality. In his famous “4th of July Speech” Frederick Douglas brings about his own interpretation of the Declaration of Independence and the ideas that all men are created equal, not just white landowners, as it was the norm at that time. Douglas goes on to criticize the American government and its hypocritical practices towards minorities especially African Americans. “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.” A very powerful sentence which explains the slave’s discontent with America and the reality that the Declaration was great on paper but failed to be implemented in practice. In this case, we see a push for equality in that all males are created equal regardless of race and origin. Elisabeth Stanton used the Declaration of Independence as an example from which to draft her own document. The Declaration of Sentiments came about once women started fighting for their voice to be heard. Again, the ideas that all men are created equal and that government is here to protect are mentioned in the new document. Stanton starts off with presenting her belief and her own interpretation of the Declaration of Independence and how her rights were taken from her without her consent. Elisabeth Stanton beliefs that women deserve to be represented and that they are due the same freedoms that men enjoy. (she just wrote women in alongside of the men.)Here we see another push for equality and yet for another demographic. This time women draw from the Declaration of Independence and explain why they have grievances and concerns with the government. They believe that they are not protected by the government and that they have an obligation to change the situation. It is evident to see that the Declaration of Independence will change its meaning as long as people continue to demand change. It is very easy to come up with your own interpretation and yet it is very hard to implement it in practice. This is the reason all of these movements took decades to be put into effect.good point
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, which was (rework doesn't read well or really seem relavant>) amended somewhat both by committee and by Congress. It was a document that listed grievances most colonists held against the King of England and the British Parliament. In the document, Jefferson defines the purpose of government, identifies several inalienable rights that each individual possesses, and explains the obligation of the people when government fails to do its part.
The reason that the Declaration of Independence came about was the colonists’ discontent over the policies which the British government implemented over its subjects. A major reason for such a move was “Taxation without Representation”, the idea that the colonists should have a say in matters that pertain to them was a popular one at the time. The document itself does a great job of presenting the belief that the colonists stood by and later listing instances where their rights were not protected. The Declaration of Independence would go on to inspire countless movements and its interpretation would change over the course of history. Here are some important social issues which required the interpretation of the Declaration of Independence to be modified.
The progress of the interpretation of this document can be shown through three different activists, all drawing from the same document but fighting for different social groups. After some research, it becomes evident that Thomas Jefferson’s interpretation of the Declaration was different from Frederick Douglas’s which also differs from Elisabeth Stanton’s interpretation of the original document. With that in mind, one can infer that there is no right or wrong interpretation of the document since every reader ultimately comes up with his own understanding of the document and thus his own interpretation.
When Thomas Jefferson wrote “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” He was largely representing the White landowners who expressed discontent with the British government in numerous instances at that time. At that time the King taxed the colonies, passed laws for them, trialed criminals, and allowed the quartering of troops in the new world, while refusing to allow the colonists to be represented in Parliament. When Jefferson spoke of equality, it becomes evident that his concern was establishing equality between the Colonists and people actually living in England who were actually represented in the Parliament.
According to Jefferson, in order to protect these inalienable rights “Governments are instituted among Men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” And if the Government fails to do so, the people have the right to “alter or to abolish it and to institute a new Government.” This explains the actions taken by the colonists who believed it was their obligation to overthrow a government which became oppressive to them. This model would go on to inspire other activists in their own pursuit of equality.
Several decades after the Declaration of Independence was written, Frederick Douglas preached another interpretation of the document. As a former slave, he had a first-hand account of the life for most African-Americans living in the South. Frederick Douglas was able to educate himself and eventually become an abolitionist, educating the public of the evils of slavery and advocating a push for equality. In his famous “4th of July Speech” Frederick Douglas brings about his own interpretation of the Declaration of Independence and the ideas that all men are created equal, not just white landowners, as it was the norm at that time. Douglas goes on to criticize the American government and its hypocritical practices towards minorities especially African Americans. “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.” A very powerful sentence which explains the slave’s discontent with America and the reality that the Declaration was great on paper but failed to be implemented in practice. In this case, we see a push for equality in that all males are created equal regardless of race and origin.
Elisabeth Stanton used the Declaration of Independence as an example from which to draft her own document. The Declaration of Sentiments came about once women started fighting for their voice to be heard. Again, the ideas that all men are created equal and that government is here to protect are mentioned in the new document. Stanton starts off with presenting her belief and her own interpretation of the Declaration of Independence and how her rights were taken from her without her consent. Elisabeth Stanton beliefs that women deserve to be represented and that they are due the same freedoms that men enjoy. (she just wrote women in alongside of the men.)Here we see another push for equality and yet for another demographic. This time women draw from the Declaration of Independence and explain why they have grievances and concerns with the government. They believe that they are not protected by the government and that they have an obligation to change the situation.
It is evident to see that the Declaration of Independence will change its meaning as long as people continue to demand change. It is very easy to come up with your own interpretation and yet it is very hard to implement it in practice. This is the reason all of these movements took decades to be put into effect.good point