Andrew Leahey

History 135

Midterm

Essay #9

Discuss the ideology surrounding the Declaration of Independence.

On what principles, hopes and desired results was it based? Can

these principles and the realities of American life be reconciled? Be

sure to include a discussion of Thomas Jefferson using The Mosaic

article "The American Sphinx."

The Declaration of Independence, the most famous American document

ever written, is a statement authored by Thomas Jefferson, who's efforts at

profound political thought were described by John Adams and James

Madison as "often embarrassingly superficial and sometimes downright

juvenile" [Ellis,154]. The principles of the document itself mirror the

ambitious, though perhaps unattainable, philosophical views its author held.

In fact, the original Jeffersonian copy of the Declaration previous to any

Continental Congress edits, was written with even more utopian ideals.

Rather than all men merely being created equal, Jefferson's original copy

reads that "all men are created equal and independent" that these rights

were "sacred and undeniable" and that their rights are inherent from their

"equal creation" [Jefferson,154]. With slavery a legal institution, these

statements obviously contradict the reality of life in Jefferson's time. It

should be noted, however, that the slave trade itself was a deplored

enterprise in Virginia during this time.

 Thomas Jefferson acts as a pseudo-Messiah for our nation. We do not

want to attempt to reconcile his moral choices with his writings, because we

fear he will fall from the pedestal we have placed him on. He, like the

Declaration he authored, has become a figure that can be referred to by

both sides in nearly any political difference of opinion as a champion of their

cause. Due to this, we have largely overlooked the glaring contradictions in

not only the nation and the creed, but the man himself and his writings. He

spoke of all men being created equal, and yet he owned slaves. He failed to

live up to the ideals he himself had written, with evidence of his racism and

sexism. Even still, we stand behind him both as a man and a founding father

of our country. Perhaps this is due to his famously enigmatic persona, or

maybe it just reflects our inherent need for an intellectual champion;

somehow if he is flawed, maybe our nation and our ideals are too.

It is clear then, to me, that the desired result of the Declaration of

Independence was to produce something the American people could rally

behind, something written so clearly and concisely, every American could

understand its principles and align himself with its ideology. It was less a

directive, and more a list of ideals we should be striving towards, even

knowing that it could never be achieved to perfection. The intention, I think,

was to put down on paper all the hopes and dreams that could be realized if

liberation from England was successful. It was a collection of the highest

ideals Jefferson held, his most ambitious aspirations for a road-map for the

new country.

Though historically thought of as a radical document, the Declaration was

actually not released until after the general public's sentiments had moved
closer towards being in line with it. Though they believed in the principles

behind the Declaration, the signers knew what they were getting in to,

facing execution as traitors, and were not about to put their name on such a

document if the American people were not behind them.

The Declaration of Independence also marked a change in who the

Colonists and Congress held responsible for their ills. Previously, they had

blamed Parliament, giving King George something of a free-pass. Now it was

quite clear who they held accountable; eighteen of the documents

paragraphs begin with "He", referring to the King, and go on to list a way in

which he had personally wronged America. Just two years prior, in 1774's

"Declarations and Resolves" of The Continental Congress, this King was

referred to in the most cordial terms and Congress proposed to "prepare a

loyal address to his majesty" [Congress,146]. This marked more than just a

change in opinion of a leader, this marked a change of the course of action

America would need to take. If you're against Parliament, there may be

some hope for a peaceful resolution through diplomatic channels. If you're

against the King though, you're against England itself, as he is the

government.

I believe the principles put forth in the Declaration of Independence by

Thomas Jefferson are ambitious ones, but ones that must be worked

towards. He was quoted as saying he "drew his ideas from the harmonizing

ideas of the day". Though some of the statements are in direct conflict with

what was going on around Jefferson at the time, and his own actions, I do

believe he knew what he was doing when he authored the document. It

reflects his thinking that there was a clear line between good and evil. The
Declaration would be a timeless piece of writing that could be referred to by

many different groups of people, existing in many different times, with a

feeling of "this applies to me, too". Jefferson hoped for a country not only

free from the tyranny of Great Britain, but free from the shortcomings that

would not leave with the British. Thomas Jefferson hoped to lay out a plan

which the nation he helped to found could follow, even if he himself did not

succeed in adhering to it. Though perfection may never be achieved, it must

forever be strived for.