The Declaration of Independence
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The Declaration of Independence is one of the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument. In April 1775, the Revolutionary War began in Lexington and Concord. The Second Continental Congress summed up and tried to find a way to break free from Great Britian's tough grip. The split was fortified with the support of many, including Thomas Paine, who wrote Common Sense. In July 1776, Richard Henry Lee presented the Lee Resolution, explaining that the colonies should become independent and separate from Britian's crown. The full Declaration was rewritten by Thomas Jefferson in a general session of the Continental Congress. Congress, meeting in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, finished revising Jefferson's draft statement on July 4th, approved it, and sent it to a printer. The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson to separate the original thirteen colonies from its tyrant, Great Britian. First, Jefferson explained why independene was necessary. The Preamble followed, declaring the job of a true government and stating the rights of the people. Then, Jefferson presented all the contradictions that the King of Britian made to make the colonies want to separate. He finished with his conclusion, justifying the conditions of the revolution. The signers agreed that political ties with Britian were to be cut; with that, fifty-six members of the new 13 states signed the Delcaration of Independence. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence thinking of the United States as a whole. He claimed All men are created equal. His statement made all believe that every man had every right equally expressed. Jefferson, nevertheless, owned a numerous amount of slaves. Sally Hemings, a slave, had as least one of Jefferson's children. He managed to free all of Sally Hemings's children, but he did not give freedom to any other nuclear slave family, as proven by recent studies. However, as that point in history, slaves were not considered to be men, but property instead. Jefferson spoke on the behalf of the Englishmen, not the slaves, allowing slaves to be raised in his household even after he wrote the Declaration of Independence. |