A Critical Analysis Of Thomas Jefferson's The Declaration Of Independence

Declaration of Freedom

(A Critical Analysis of Thomas Jefferson’s, The Declaration of Independence)

The 40th president of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan once said, “Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.”America, although a very young country compared to others, has had much success politically. America has the strongest and most effective military in the world, the best run government, and many would say the best foundational values. However, what happened in the past that 13 colonies were forced to separate from a nation which had continually protected them? Well, when one reads the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, it becomes very clear why these colonies did what

Within this document, Jefferson makes many references to how men for the colonies and men from Great Britain were born equal, so they should be treated as such. Jefferson writes, “We hold these truths to be self - evident, that all men are created equal” (9). By saying this, Jefferson implied that men should be treated fairly; however, he did not practice this within his own life. What he really meant by writing this line, was that all white men who owned land were created equal. John Locke, the most famous English philosopher once stated, “All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.” Jefferson tried very hard to use John Locke as a key player in the document he was writing to the English Parliament, however he failed to see the point Locke was actually trying to

At first, the English government was baffled that the colonies would demand such urgent separation. In fact, the English government did not take the colonies serious at all, at first. It was only when Jefferson wrote the declaration that England finally began to realize that the colonies were completely serious, and for good reason, too. Jefferson wrote that they had every right to independence because, “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” (12). Here, Jefferson is stating that governments are supposed to protect the common people who are a part of the country. Years later, the 4t president of the United States, James Madison, said, “The rights to persons, and the rights of property,are the objects, for the protection of which Government was instituted.” Continuously, American politicians expressed how important it was that the government be run for the people, protecting what the people want and/or