The Declaration of Independence is a document written and adopted in 1776 in the effort to “declare independence” from the nation of Great Britain during the time of the 13 colonies. It is organized in a format that first introduces the declaration, then giving specific examples of the abuse of power and the prolonged neglect of the demands of the citizens. What’s unique about the Declaration of Independence is that some of the problems that it is cited within the government of Great Britian can be seen today with the current US government.

The declaration is introduced by stating the how governments function, citing in a speech format, ” But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government….”. This is stating how from the point of view of the 13 colonies, the average person/citizen should have the ability to overthrow the government that they dislike. Stated earlier in the introduction ” ….. Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — 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…….”.

In my opinion, the declaration is persuasive primarily due to the opposing views of the author(s) and the expected audience. The views of the declaration are for the detachment of Great Britian and the rich/men/non-slaves of the 13 colonies. This is important to remember because it only secures the freedom of men/non-slaves in the 13 colonies, where as the women/slaves are considered less than human because of cultural norms at the time.

In Randy Barnett’s interpretation of the declaration, one of the quotes spoke to me more than the others, and that would be the fourth quote from Barnett where he interpreted “Governments are instituted among Men…..” stating that governments must have the consent of the governed. This in my opinion is impossible to a modern-day standard in the United States, where how would it be possible to form a militia to take out the United States government. During 2020, modern-day United States, there are a group of citizens that are not happy with the way the government runs, it would not be possible to “overthrow” the government. This specific line resonates with me because it shows how outdated pieces of history that are cited in modern-day politics are. An example I might use would be the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. It reads ” A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. “. This is the second amendment, and in my opinion, it is an extremely outdated idea that should be changed for modern-day. In what world does an individual have enough power to overthrow a government, if state government is overthrown there would be mass hysteria and confusion. This idea would be possible in 1776, it is not possible in 2020. The rules that are cited as the “foundations of America” are extremely outdated, and do not meet the needs of the present, it meets the needs of the past.