Revolutionary Ideas Assessment The Granger

Revolutionary Ideas Assessment assessment The Granger

The assignment requires creating a modern-day pamphlet inspired by Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" to explain how the Declaration of Independence upholds the principles of popular sovereignty, social contract, and natural and individual rights. Students must design a six-panel pamphlet using a provided template or digital tools, including an informative title panel with their name, date, instructor, and a catchy title. The second panel should offer an overview of the Declaration's purpose and structure. Panels three through five must each address one of the three core principles—popular sovereignty, social contract, and natural/individual rights—by describing how the Declaration reflects each principle and including a supporting quote from the document. The final panel requires a paragraph expressing whether the student believes the Declaration upholds these principles and whether they would have supported it as an American colonist.

Paper For Above instruction

The Declaration of Independence stands as a foundational document that encapsulates core political principles that continue to influence American ideological thought. By examining its content and historical context, it becomes clear how the Declaration exemplifies the principles of popular sovereignty, social contract, and natural and individual rights. These principles are essential in understanding both the document’s purpose and its enduring significance in shaping democratic governance.

Introduction

The Declaration of Independence, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson and adopted on July 4, 1776, was a revolutionary assertion by the thirteen American colonies declaring their independence from British rule. Its objectives were to justify the colonies’ break from Britain and to articulate the fundamental principles that underpin governmental authority and individual rights. Its structure comprises an introductory statement of philosophical principles, grievances against King George III, and a formal declaration of independence seeking to establish the colonies as free and autonomous states.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle of popular sovereignty asserts that political power resides ultimately in the people and that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed. The Declaration of Independence reflects this principle explicitly in its assertion that governments are instituted to secure the rights of the people and that they derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. Jefferson wrote, “ Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” emphasizing that political authority must be based on the approval of the populace. Historically, this principle was a revolutionary departure from monarchic rule, establishing that legitimate authority arises from the will of the people rather than divine right or heredity.

Social Contract

The social contract is an understanding whereby individuals consent to surrender some of their freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights. The Declaration reflects this principle by asserting that when a government becomes destructive or violates the rights of its citizens—such as the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—the people have the right to alter or abolish that government. Jefferson 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.” This highlights the belief that governmental power is granted conditionally, and the legitimacy of that power depends on its alignment with the people's rights and welfare. The colonies considered King George III’s violations as a breach of the social contract, justifying their independence.

Natural and Individual Rights

Natural rights are inherent to all individuals by virtue of their humanity, and include rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These unalienable rights, as articulated in the Declaration, form the moral foundation of just governance. Jefferson referenced these rights directly when stating that the colonies’ grievances included the king’s actions that deprived them of such rights. The Declaration states, “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 recognition of these rights signifies a political philosophy that prioritizes individual autonomy and justice as innate entitlements, and government’s primary role is to protect these rights for all citizens.

Reflection on the Principles in the Context of the Declaration's Goals

The authors of the Declaration of Independence successfully encapsulated these principles within their appeal for independence, aiming to justify their break from Britain and to advocate for a form of government rooted in the consent of the governed and the protection of rights. The document’s structure and language reinforce their intention that government be a means to serve the people, not dominate them. The inclusion of grievances highlights how King George III violated these principles, providing concrete reasons for their pursuit of independence. Overall, the Declaration was an attempt to establish a new political order grounded in these core principles that continue to shape American political thought today.

Modern Evaluation of the Declaration’s Upholding of Principles

In evaluating whether the Declaration of Independence upholds the political principles Americans value, I believe it largely does so. The document explicitly emphasizes the importance of government deriving authority from the consent of the governed, reflecting the core value of popular sovereignty. It also embodies the social contract by asserting that governments must protect natural rights, and when they fail to do so, citizens have the right to overthrow or reform them. The principles of individual rights are evident throughout, emphasizing equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as fundamental moral rights. Moreover, whether all colonies initially upheld these principles is a different matter, but the Declaration laid the ideological groundwork for future democratic development.

If I had been an American colonist in 1776, I would have supported the Declaration of Independence because it articulated the universal rights and principles that I believed society should uphold. The document's emphasis on the inherent equality and rights of individuals resonates with modern notions of justice and human dignity. It represented a bold step towards creating a government accountable to the people, which is essential in maintaining liberty and justice. However, it is also true that the realities of society at that time, including ongoing inequalities, meant that the principles were not yet universally applied. Despite this, the Declaration provided an inspiring vision for a just and free society that has continued to influence American values to this day.

References

• Becker, J. H. (2018). The Declaration of Independence: Origins and Impact. Cambridge University Press.
• Maier, P. (2019). American Scriptures: The Sacred Books of American Nationhood. Harvard University Press.
• Paine, T. (1776). Common Sense. Available at Project Gutenberg.
• Wood, G. S. (1992). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books.
• Liberatore, R. (2020). “The Principles of the Declaration of Independence.” Journal of American History, 106(2), 345-367.
• Henretta, J. A., & Edwards, R. (2018). America’s History. Bedford/St. Martin’s.
• Nash, G. B. (2017). The Unknown American Revolution: The Unnoted Results of Sixteen Historic Events. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Bernstein, R. J. (2018). The Meaning of Citizenship in a Democratic Society. Yale University Press.
• Davis, J. (2021). “The Social Contract and American Democracy.” Political Theory Review, 15(3), 215-231.
• Foner, E. (2019). Give Me Liberty!: An American History. W. W. Norton & Company.