• The Declaration of Independence is made up of several sections. Read through and pay attention to the document’s organization. Write a few sentences summing up the purpose of each section and the reason (or reasons) it was written (e.g. is it a call to action? an explanation? a proposal of a solution? something else?).

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, 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.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —”

This illustrates that humans are all equal and they all have the right to live a life with freedom and happiness.  Also that the government plays a huge role in granting these needs to all the mens living in the nation. It is a proposal of a solution since american people were controlled by the british government which is harshful and destructive to their people. I believe that this section argues that people living in America shouldn’t have to go through the same history ever again, so that they can live in peace and harmony. 

  • What about this document is or is not persuasive in your view?

When it states, “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.” I believe this is persuasive because as the DOC also states that all men are created equal and we have the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. However, if these rights are taken away, government is not putting an effort to give these rights to the people and overthrowing the government seems to the power that we all are entitled with in order to get our rights back. 

  • Take a look at Randy Barnett’s article in The Washington Post. In it, he interprets several of the claims made in the Declaration, and he explains what these claims are saying in modern terms. Pick one or two of the claims that you feel relate to concerns, issues, or problems in American society today, and explain your choice (or choices).

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, 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.” The most famous line of the Declaration.  On the one hand, this will become a great embarrassment to a people who permitted slavery.  On the other hand making public claims like this has consequences—that’s why people make them publicly.  To be held for account.    And this promise will provide the heart of the abolitionists case in the Nineteenth Century, which is why late defenders of slavery eventually came to reject the Declaration.

I think it’s important to point out that the declaration was meant to be for every person in the nation but while the declaration of independence was written and already being followed by the government. Slavery still existed and the African people weren’t treated equally like the Americans or by the Americans. It took roughly 80 years to abolish slavery and many civil wars took place during those eras. This point by Randy illustrates that the DOC wasn’t meant for all the people that lived in the nation.Â