Question

Jefferson wrote, “We believe 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.” What drove Jefferson and the Second Continental Congress to pen such a statement? Consider the following question as you respond:

In what ways did their interpretation of “all men” differ from how it was interpreted at different points in U.S. history (such as Jacksonian democracy, the experience of Native Americans, and the period of manifest destiny)?

Answer 1

Jefferson's own words, the purpose of the declaration was to reassert American independence in terms as plain and full as to command their assent. As a manifestation of the philosophy of the natural rights of people in an age when absolute monarchs ruled throughout the world, it had an immense impact in America as well as in Europe.

Jefferson did not originate the concept of government by consent and the belief that all people are endowed with certain rights that government cannot infringe upon. These ideas came from European philosophers, most notably 17th century British philosopher John Locke.

In the declaration, however, for the first time they were given a practical application. Moreover, in Jefferson's own words they attained their most expressive expression.

The fact that all men are made equal by their maker and are blessed with certain Rights which are non-negotiable and among those are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness are known to be obvious,. And , governments are established among Men, deriving their rightful powers from the permission of the governed, to assure these rights.

It is the upright of the People to change or to get rid of whenever government becomes annihilating to fulfill these rights, it, and to establish new Government, settling its basis on such values. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted In a few days, the declaration was being read to people throughout the colonies, and it was acknowledged with great cheer and joy. The declaration held the gist of ideals of jefferson.

Though Jefferson, the committee, and the then Congress did many rewriting, salient part in writing this document of the American Revolution was retained by Jefferson. Jefferson was analytic of alteration done to the record, especially the ejection of a long piece of writing that assigned the responsibility of the slave trade to British King George III. Jefferson was rightly proud of his part in penning the Declaration of Independence and skillfully safeguarded his writing of this sacred document.