The Couger Report

This is a continuation of my series on 15 Things You Must Read Before Voting.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

ABOUT

The Declaration of Independence was a document that asserted the sovereignty of the United States of America and presented a philosophical foundation for a new political system. The Document is a logical syllogism in the sense that Jefferson asserts the principles of a just government, shows how the British have violated those principles and ergo we must form our own country. The listing of grievances, although important, is not my focus. Instead the first two paragraphs (particularly the second) represent the philosophical essence of early America. If nothing else, the Declaration served as the philosophical and moral standard for governance for the next 150 years.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

By July 4, 1776 the United States had already been at war with Great Britain for nearly a year. Following the Seven-Years War (also known as the French and Indian War) the British aimed to stay more involved in colonial life. Many of the colonials did not take kindly to the increased presence of the crown and incidents of sedition resulted. The British response was almost always to increase their control through “intolerable acts,” a “stamp tax” and numerous other policies that aggravated colonial descent, rather than squander it.

The Declaration of Independence was Jefferson’s attempt to use reason to justify the breaking of “the political bonds” which connected the colonies to Great Britain. Not only was the document a logical explanation but it was also the summation of numerous thinkers, notably John Locke.

MY ANALYSIS

The “Declaration of Independence” is Jefferson’s magnum opus and probably the most important document that ever came out of America. Arguably, the Declaration is the most groundbreaking advancement in political thought of all time. In an effort to prove this I am going to dissect the second paragraph of the Declaration for you.

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.

This is one of the English language’s most famous sentences, and rightfully so. The equality argument was stolen from John Locke, who in turn pirated the concept from the Bible (a concept of equality under the eyes of God). Jefferson’s wording shows that although men are born equal, equality should not necessarily extend to all faculties of human existence (property, intelligence and so on). What it does mean is that all men, equal under the eyes of God, are equal in the eyes of government also. This Jeffersonian equality applies to our “Natural Rights.”

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: three “unalienable Rights” that apply to all men, at all times, in any circumstance. Fixed, immutable and undeniable truths that must be reserved for all men eternally. It is important to note that Jefferson states “among these rights,” implying certain others. As proof that Jefferson had more “natural rights” he later makes the claim that we have a “natural right” to revolution. Going back to John Locke, we have six natural rights in total: Life, Liberty, Property, Conscience, Safety and the Pursuit of Happiness. Add Jefferson’s “right to revolution” and each man has a total of 7 natural rights.

Each natural right represents “freedom from something” (from theft) rather than “freedom to something” (like health-care or a job).

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men…

And this is the purpose of government: to secure these natural rights. The proper end and object of authority is liberty. Based on this premise, a politician never “gives you the right,” he only protects it or takes it away.

…deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…

The power is delegated from the people. The citizens get to allocate power to the government, within the moral context of the declaration. Ultimately this clause gave the philosophical basis for the formation of our Constitution.

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.

This section introduces two more natural rights: safety and revolution. We have a right to alter or abolish any government that does not exclusively protect our natural rights (this begs this question: is our current government protecting our natural rights?).

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

Jefferson makes the claim that people will be reluctant to abolish the system to which they have become accustomed. Most men would rather suffer under an unjust social compact than work to enact a just government.

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, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Nevertheless, the people actually have an obligation, a civic duty, to dispose despotism and provide a new system for the protection of our natural rights.

What a remarkable Declaration. Jefferson manages to encapsulate huge amounts of prior political thought into two small paragraphs. Last weekend we celebrated the 233rd anniversary of the signing of this document. One last note, emphasizing the brilliance and importance of this document, was penned by Larry Arnn, “The universal claims of the Declaration are more remarkable when one remembers that it is an act of treason carrying the risk of death to all who supported it. Especially at the end, where the resolve of the signers becomes particular and grim, one can see that the document contemplates sacrifice as the price of liberty: And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Click for #2 Federalist 10.

Suggested Readings:

The Founders Constitution Vol. 1

John Locke’s Second Treatise on Civil Goverment