Introduction
In the United States, the declaration of independence meant a lot to Thomas Jefferson, though his interest was to go back to Virginia so that he could assist in drafting the countries laws. According to Jefferson, the independence was to liberate the Americans from the oppression of the British government.
As someone keen on the people’s right and independence, he believed that all people should be free and not be deprived of opportunities, but ought to remain happy and enjoy life. Jefferson was an agent of change who maintained his professional documentaries, which depicted American Revolution that could only be spearheaded by the people of integrity.
In fact, he was analytical of the prospected changes in the systems of government, especially the one that would be responsible for enhancing equality. Therefore, this report focuses on the key ideas in the Declaration of Independence, including the concepts of natural rights and consent of the governed.
Declaration of Independence
Apparently, as several interest groups struggled for their natural rights such as sovereignty, equality and freedom, there was need to limit the activities of various factions against one another. Most of the groups relied on the laws of nature in controlling their affairs and did not believe that the powers from another geographic location could curtail other people’s activities.
This was really a struggle among the powers and an occurrence against the control that nature exerted on earthly phenomenon and people. The increase in such occurrence necessitated a declaration and proclamation that the various groups and individuals had to make for their freedom so that they could improve the condition of living in the region (Shelley & Ford, 2011). In addition, the compulsion of change that finally led to the declaration of independence based on the consent of the governed.
The Americans also believed that the natural rights of each individual were to be observed and the course of law could only be changed by the people themselves so that it could create decency in society. Moreover, the people needed respect despite the various demands that certain interest groups required. The factual things remained undeniable among the people on whether acting individually or as a group could help bring independence.
However, some people disregarded the reality and went further to exert influence on other groups to cause unnecessary fear and tension. Notably, such could not be condoned and the Americans were compelled to go to war with the colonial masters. There were several key indicators in the declaration of independence that included some of the following.
The Key Indicators
First, it was evident that in one’s righteous mind, all people were equal in terms of creation, thus deserved freedom. In this sense, no person had the power to claim superiority than the rest since the equality guaranteed all people a common sense of independence and they were to remain free from interference.
Since freedom improves one’s productivity and innovation, confinement or curtailing the freedom limits one’s achievement and the equal opportunity to express his/her own opinion regarding growth and aspiration. This could not be realized because the US people’s independence was curtailed (Shelley & Ford, 2011).
In fact, each person had his/her way of expressing the rights without intimidation. Besides, the rights could not be alienated from the person at will. Notably, the Americans knew that the human lifestyle could be compromised the moment his/her liberty was curtailed.
Basically, happiness is the only way a person can express his/her freedom, meaning that the degree of a group’s contentment determines the safety of its members, a situation that calls for independence. Jefferson and others understood that it might not be easy to compel someone to forgo happiness at the expense of another person.
The traditional society also discouraged abuses that a particular group could have on the other. This indicated the way in which the society valued freedom and fought for independence after their leaders sought the consent of the majority.
The second idea under this declaration was objectivity. Particularly, it aimed at ensuring that the subjective power existed, thus the formation of a government. This government was to serve the interest of the different groupings of people with an aim of reducing the persistent conflicts of interest among the citizens (Shelley & Ford, 2011). Moreover, the government was to serve all regardless of the interest and affiliation.
Therefore, the people were very optimistic that the government was to articulate its duty of ensuring security for the people who had suffered from the hands of the colonialists. After attaining sovereignty, the government was to address numerous constraints the people had gone through during colonialism; hence the declaration of independence meant a lot for the people of the US who had been held under dehumanizing leadership of the colonial master.
Third, in the US, the declaration meant that the new government was to take the political power and responsibility to protect all the citizens. Thomas Jefferson strongly believed in the establishment of the Government, which is founded on the principle of sovereignty finds its residence in the leaders, and not on the people.
However, the work could only be implemented easily if the people concede to it. He strongly believed that the sovereignty would be exercised by the new government on behalf of the people through their consent. In addition, he understood that the declaration had the goal of disabling, killing or imprisoning all rival political opponents or potential leaders who might threaten his political ambitions.
In doing this, he would make use of imprisonment, selecting repression, executions or torture to disable and cripple any opposing groups. Moreover, he would concentrate power, prestige and authority as objects of emulation.
The fourth idea included the need for the country to create, offer support to, and encourage the military movements and groups in the entire population. He also wanted to engage in the exportation of revolutionaries into the management of affairs.
Besides, he had an aim of increasing political contacts and economic ties with other developing nations, with the view of enhancing the people’s freedom. In the US, the declaration meant that the likes of Thomas had a goal of waging planetary control so as to enable the country take control over the conquer, and probably subdue the remaining infidel nations.
This aimed at bringing the latter under the rule and control of the people, thus a sense of sovereignty (Shelley & Ford, 2011). In this regard, the major aim of the declaration of independence was to rule the US by its leaders.
Essentially, the declaration of independence was more distinct in its analysis of the status quo than the situation that was in other countries since it carefully portrayed the intended system of government through the consent of the people.
It also challenged the expectations of the leaders with the tactical analysis of the past and presentation governments based on the issues, which the present one would be able to address. With its simple, clearly articulated and focused statements, the declaration of independence facilitated the understanding of the intentions of the new government.
Reference
Shelley, S. & Ford, B. (2011). American Government and Politics Today. California, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.