Declaration Of Independence example essay topic

462 words
Though the Declaration of Independence in 1776 was disregarded by the British, it served major milestone for the thirteen colonies. The purpose of this document was not only to separate themselves from King George and Great Britain, but it held a promise that they would form a new government. The Declaration of Independence stated their reasons for severance, but one of the more prevalent reason was found in the lines of the second paragraph: 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 powers form the consent of the governed. The thirteen colonies wanted to protect their rights and what they knew as basic freedoms, and they knew that peace with Great Britain was unattainable. They knew that drastic times called for drastic measures.

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long abolished should not be changed for light and transient causes". The colonies felt as if it was their duty to rid of their government and form a new one because the old one was misusing its power and mistreating its people. They believed that every government must have the support of the people it governs, and the British obviously did not have hold of that support. Nor did the British tried to compromise, let alone listen to what the colonies had to say. The colonies knew that there was no path that they could take. The Declaration of Independence also makes many accusations against the King, all in which undermines the unalienable rights that all men should accordingly have.

This document represents the colonies forming a union and being able to come together for the same, yet important cause. "And for the support of this Declarations, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor". However, this declaration is merely a promise. It states that they are now the United States of America, which is a free and independent nation. However, this document would have remained just a muddle of hopeful words if it wasn't for the Constitution which fulfilled the promise that the Declaration stated. Without the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence would have been, figuratively speaking, just a cake without icing.

The Declaration can probably be argued to be similar to the American Dream, but without the greed that plagues it. It was that same hope, thirst and want for independence that thrived in those colonists' blood.