Chelsea Brenyah

ENG 1121

October 1,2020

Word Count: 368

Analyzing the Declaration of independence

The section stating that all men are equal is a wake-up call to Americans. The section claims that all men are equal and are endowed by their creator with unalienable rights to life, happiness, and Liberty (National Archives par. 2). It was written to warn those acting superior and depriving others of their fundamental rights. The section stating that people have the right to abolish a destructive government and establish another government that prioritizes their safety and happiness is a call to action (National Archives par. 2). This section was written as a reminder that the people are sovereign and can decide what they want in a government. The King of Britain section compares the current king and other kings in history (National Archives par. 2). Like kings in Britain’s history, the current king refuses to assent to law bills that would have otherwise benefited the public. He is also accused of preventing governors from passing laws, not wanting anyone else to be elected, obstructing justice, and affecting military independence. In my view, this document is very persuasive.

From Randy Barnett’s article published in The Washington Post, one claim caught my attention: it resonates well with American society’s most outstanding issue today. The claim put forward by Rachel Martin, for instance, points out the most significant problem in America, racism. She states that “men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” (NPR par. 2). Racial discrimination is a common practice in the country, especially against Blacks. The most recent case is the brutal killing of George Floyd by a white police officer. Rachel adds that “to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” (NPR par. 2). I feel that her claim gives a full picture of the level of inequality in America today. 

Works Cited

National Archives. “Declaration of Independence: A Transcription.” https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript 

NPR. “NPR Reads the Declaration of Independence.” NPR, https://www.npr.org/2020/07/03/883024992/npr-reads-the-declaration-of-independence