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The essay presents specific arguments supported by textual evidence and details gathered in research

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Although the declaration of Independence was considered radical at that time, however, it has paved the way for basic man rights to spread in our world today.  The declaration of Independence is considered the corner stone foe basic and natural rights that were deprived by the colonization. In 1775, Thomas Jefferson was elected to the Continental Congress. He drafted the declaration of Independence. It was completed and signed in July 1776. (“Historical Context for the Declaration of Independence.” Columbia College, www.college.columbia.edu/core/content/american-revolution-and-founding-texts/context.) The declaration of Independence marked the separation between the 13 colonies and Great Britain.When the declaration of independence was released, it was considered a radical document. There was no place for democracy when old traditional monarchs ruled most of the world. But there were enlightenment ideas that started to spread throughout the world. Thomas Jefferson was inspired by those philosophers – as John Locke and Voltaire- who were demonized by the old traditional monarchs at that time. In the 17 th century, John Locke, who was an Englishman, redefined the nature of government. (“Foundations of American Government.” Ushistory.org, Independence Hall Association, www.ushistory.org/gov/2.asp.) Locke put the basis of legitime government in his Second Treatise of Government. He said that the ruler gains the legitimacy from the consent of the people whom he governs. He also said that the main role of the government to protect the natural rights of the people which are life, liberty, and property. (“News.” Proessaycom The Secret of the Wild Child Comments, www.proessay.com/john-lockes-influence-on-the-writing-of-the-declaration-of-independence-essay/.)He also said that if the government failed to secure these rights, the citizens will have the right to overthrow them. This was one of the main ideas that influenced Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. The phrase, “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, “was an idea in John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government.  In addition, the phrase” All men are created equal” was another cornerstone in the Declaration of Independence. I was also a radical phrase at that time, however, it had a great impact later on in history. (“A Brief Analysis of the Declaration of Independence.” Alzheimer Thesis, Thesis Statement, Thesis Topics, How to Write a Thesis, Master Thesis, Thesis Editing, www.thesisexperts.com/thesis-declaration-independence.shtml.)

In fact, the basic rights that have been introduced in the Declaration of Independence led to great changes in history. First of all, the idea of “all men are equal” had achieved in the beginning liberty from the old monarchs. It inspired the American revolution as they rebelled against the English monarchy. Riots and protests started to take place against the British Empire. By time, these societies gained their freedom and preserved their rights from other foreign or authoritarian rulers. Later, a new dimension of freedom was gained under the auspices of “all men are equal” as well as the phrase” life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” The idea of abolitionist movement was inspired by these phrases in the declaration of Independence.  In the historical context of the Declaration of Independence, the phrase meant the white people, but later it included all gender and races. For example, many major civil rights leaders used the phrase “all man are created equal” to demand equality for all. As Martin Luther King, who used it in his well-known speech “I have a Dream”. 

He said, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” (Rogers, Mackinlee. “What Does ‘All Men Are Created Equal’ Mean?” Starting Points, 22 Mar. 2018, startingpointsjournal.com/men-created-equal-mean-2/.) Moreover, another group of humanity was inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s concept. The concept that all men are created equal, which was the core of the Enlightenment philosophy, inspired another group who were deprived from their rights foe a long time. Women struggled for a long time as the African American to gain their rights. At the time of Thomas Jefferson, the phrase “All men are created equal” excluded women in practice. However, like Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglas of the abolitionist movement, people as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others called for equality for women. Before 1920, women didn’t have the right to vote. However, in 1920 all women had the right to vote. Furthermore, the Declaration of Independence in American inspired other nations to seek self-governance as France. The French Revolution was inspired greatly by the Declaration of Independence, cause the French people used to suffer from the monarch system. In the end, the declaration of independence has created a dramatic change not only at the time of its release, but even later on in history. It paved the road for dramatic changes and put cornerstones that became the backbone for anyone who is fighting got his rights. When Thomas Jefferson said, “May it be to the world what I believe it will be…. the signal of arousing men to burst the chains… of superstitions and to assume the blessings and security of self-government.” He didn’t know that the concepts of the of equality among humanity will spread all over the world. At his time, women and slavery didn’t have any rights. By time, slavery and women gained their full rights. Nowadays, when people read “man” around the world, they understand at once that this word include all humanity. It also included all human nations afterwards. It inspired other nations to struggle to gain good governance as in France. 

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