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Declaration Of Independence Meaning

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Declaration Of Independence Meaning
The True Meaning of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence states, “We [the Founding Fathers] 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 (US 1776).” The Declaration of Independence was published on July 4, 1776, after seventeen days of deliberate debate about what would be the foreground of a new nation. The formal document, written by Thomas Jefferson, declared the freedom of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain and the tyrannical King George III. The Founding Fathers believed that there are certain unalienable rights, “life, liberty, and the pursuit …show more content…
Brent Strawn, a religion professor, believes that many people in modern day see the pursuit of happiness as “‘[having] to do with ‘seeking it’ or ‘going after it’ somehow.’” However, in the 1700s, the pursuit of happiness was not seen as just practicing how to be happy, but actually obtaining it. Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, “‘What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes.’” The Founding Fathers believed that everyone had the right to be truly happy not just attempting to be. Happiness was not about self-satisfaction or stupefied pleasure, but more of living life to its full potential; it was a choice. Sadly, in today’s society happiness is not a choice for all. Those in poverty, or facing discrimination in one form or another, do not always have the choice to be happy. Mankind has created such a culture that it is almost impossible to truly be one’s self without being persecuted for it. Moreover, the Founding Fathers viewed Great Britain as denying them the right to choose happiness, once again taking away their “unalienable …show more content…
Although society’s thoughts have changed from then to now, the ideas included in the Declaration of Independence are still the same. Writing the Declaration was seen as a form of rebellion, but to those writing it, it was a chance to reinvent themselves as a new nation, finally
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