Micro-Activity #9: Analyzing the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence was written to explain to foreign nations why the colonies chose to separate themselves from Great Britain. It was made for the King, the colonists, and the rest of the world. The declaration of independence has five parts, they are the Preamble which described the new philosophy of government that Jefferson and the other Founders proposed. Moreover, it explains how vital it is to begin a revolution. The second part to the declaration of independence is the Statement of Human Rights which states that all men are equal, all men are “endowed by their creator with certain unalienable happiness”, there is life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all men. The third part which is Charges Against Human Rights which contains bringing justice to those who commit genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Charges Against the King and Parliament were leveled against the person of the king. It states that the king, George III had no real power over the American colonies. The king was charged for treating the American colonists with contempt and of seeking to exert absolute power over the colonies. The king refused his assent to laws which is vital for the public good. He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance. He refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people. He dissolved representative houses many times, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of people. He quitted the government by declaring the American people out of his protection and waged war against them. Finally, the last part of this declaration was the Statement of Separation and Signatures indicating that the authority of the good people of these colonies to solemnly publish and declare that the united colonies have the rights to be free and independent state. That they are absolved from allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain should be dissolved. Also, as free, and independent states, they have full power to levy war, end peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, etc.

In my opinion, this document is persuasive because it stated everything they wanted to achieve and was put perfectly. The declaration of independence created one of the free charters of freedom today. This document emancipated slavery, it gave black slaves their freedom.