Who Is Thomas Jefferson's Ideas In The Declaration Of Independence

Thomas Jefferson, the man that once stated, “...all men are created equal...”, still owned slaves and didn’t treat them equal. This is hypocrisy at the highest level, whether or not one only believes in the good of Thomas Jefferson. One could say that Jefferson stating “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” could be more important than his personal use of slaves since it was used to unite the country against the prominent nation of Great Britain. His writing in the Declaration of Independence is all about bringing the country together whilst stating certain rights that beings have, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He states that the citizens are able to get rid of or alter the government

In the Declaration of Independence it was written, “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another.” A powerful line written by powerful men, the Declaration of Independence possessed characteristics later recognized in the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson, Third president of the United States, was one brain behind these beliefs written in the documents. However, running the country with a constitutional mindset often did not end the way it was intended. Jefferson, along with Theodore Roosevelt, and Andrew Jackson, each had their successes but also contradictory clauses, which have shaped the way America perceives each.

Due to these atrocities of this, Americans began “to no longer considered themselves British…(and) denied England any authority in the colonies”. Thomas Jefferson, the principle author of the Declaration of Independence, voiced the colonists’ discontent with the British Monarchy and outlined the flaws in King George’s rule. He said that in his “absolute tyranny” over the colonies, King George neglected laws that benefitted the “public good” and appointed government leaders “distant from the depository of their public records…(to) fatigue them into compliance of his measures”. Jefferson also noted that King George “dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people”, an act that he and other the delegates found inexcusable and intolerable. Jefferson also accused King George and Parliament of being “deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity”.

From the very start, Jefferson included all of mankind to listen as he stated, “When in the course of human events...,” (770) to immediately assimilate the struggle of the colonies as a major turning point in all of human history. He makes it very clear that the conflict the colonies are going through did not just pertain to them; it is a matter that pertains to the whole world. To prove this, Jefferson appealed to the core universal right of all humans by stating, “All men are created equal,” (770) which include the freedom to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”(770). This makes a powerful statement as Jefferson masterfully stated principles that all of mankind would agree on. Furthermore, Jefferson stated his radical new idea that the government should work for the people.

In The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson calls for the independence of the thirteen colonies who were under the British rule. While the thirteen colonies where under the British rule there was many wrong doings done to them by King George III. Therefore, the thirteen colonies wanted to become independent from the British rule. Jefferson’s purpose is to justify the act the colonies took in declaring themselves independent from the British rule to the foreign nations. He is able to achieve this purpose through the use of ethos and logos.

The American Declaration of Independence molded the foundation for the United States. Most of the establishments of this country are based on the Continental Congress’ decision to declare independence from Great Britain. The document was the first to demand liberation of the people from the evils of King George. Thomas Jefferson was a highly courageous man for constructing a document that would be considered forbidden during that time, with little to no support from the colonists. One of Jefferson’s main subjects were the colonists’ lack of natural born rights.

The American Revolution, a late 18th century colonial revolt, was the center of European interest that spurred opposition and affected the supremacy and relations between dominant nations of the time. In 1763, the close of the Seven Years War was at hand with defeat of the world power, France, by the prevailing British forces. Although British territorial accomplishment was evident, financial blunders were inevitable after obtaining great war debt and the struggle to maintain a newly amassed empire. Extreme budgetary conditions soon led to the institution of taxes that ignited American animosity. Americans soon adopted European ideals of the Enlightenment that inspired them to rebel and refuse to be controlled.

Thomas Jefferson is one of the founding fathers and the third president of the United States of America. Although, many people remember him as the author of the “Declaration of Independence”. In this document, Jefferson states that a government who doesn’t protect its people right should be changed. King George of England had imposed many unjust laws in the colonies. He had taken away the colonies rights.

“Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, these words by John Locke shaped the 19th century and beyond and became the key principles to many societies. The colonist battle for freedom against the British during the American Revolution became a global rallying cry for liberty and independence which made a global connection both ideologically and economically. 1776 was the beginning of oppressed people all around the world to stand up and stop what they know is wrong. The beginning of the colonist revolt was a written document written through a magazine article called the “Copy of the Association”.

In the first section of the document Jefferson asserts “it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them,” in this quote Jefferson clearly voices that it’s time for the colonies to “dissolve the political bands” from the motherland that has both spoonfed and disciplined them. His justification for this is provided when he establishes that they have the natural born rights from the “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God entitle them,” which King George III has outright deprived from

Locke liked the idea of coming together logically and that people are a product of their environment. As said before Locke's ideas made their way into the constitution, in the bill of rights section 1,”We hold it to be self-evident that all persons are created…”. In 1689 Locke published his political philosophy Two Treatises of Government. This directly influenced the Declaration of Independence by using his idea of natural rights and political authority. He mainly argued that the main role of government was to protect its people.

In his famous document, the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote, “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” (Jefferson). This statement reflects Jefferson’s belief that government should protect the individual’s right to pursue happiness and that this right is inherent in all people. Jefferson's political ideology, as reflected in the Declaration, was shaped by his personal circumstances, which included his childhood as a member of Virginia's planter elite, his education in philosophy, and his experiences as a slaveowner. Jefferson's belief in individual rights and freedoms was rooted in philosophy, which emphasized the importance of reason, liberty, and individualism. His ownership of slaves, however, complicated his commitment to individual rights and freedoms, revealing the contradictions and limitations of his political ideology.

Declaration of Independence Precis Thomas Jefferson in his historical document, The Declaration of Independence (1776), asserts that the colonies should break free from Britain’s tyranny. Jefferson supports his assertion through the use of anaphora, parallel structure, imagery, emotional appeal to patriotism, and logical appeal to the colonist’s basic rights. Jefferson’s purpose is to advocate for the separation of Britain and the colonies in order to escape the British tyranny that King George imposes on the American colonists. Jefferson writes in a measured tone for the British parliament, King George, and for colonists who have been a victim of Britain’s oppression.

Specifically, Locke’s ideas from his Two Treatises of Government heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson’s rationale for the propriety of America’s separation from England by expressing a great deal in the right to change the government, human rights trust and strong legislative.

John Locke was a philosopher and political scientist. He had many interests and produced a number of writings that influenced future leaders. One of these leaders was Thomas Jefferson, who was involved with the aid of America and the act gaining independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence and Locke’s views on government contain many similar aspects. These ideas includes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (natural rights); the protection that is provided by the government for these rights; and the altering or abolishment of government if it fails to provide and protect the rights of the people.