Declaration of Independence - The Justification

To see Jefferson's Rough Draft of the Declaration, click here.

Study Questions: (read these before reading the paragraph from the Declaration at the bottom of the page)

(1) The first word is "We."  Who is "we"?  The second half of the paragraph regularly refers to "them", "their", and "they".  To whom do these refer?  Why doesn't Jefferson use a different pronoun?

(2) What does Jefferson really mean when he says "all Men are created equal"?  Does he mean it?  Is he lying?  Is it propaganda?  Is it merely style?  Does it matter if he (or the author) is sincere or not?  Is it even a phrase which can have meaning?  Do you believe all Men are created equal?  What do you mean by that?  (Additional note: should the word "men" be capitalized?  Reference the drafts and first printings/broadsides.)

(3) Is there any evidence of Deism in this paragraph?  If so, what is it?  If not, are there any religious references, and what are they?

(4) What are the unalienable rights listed?  Why do you think Jefferson described them as unalienable?  Are there such a thing as unalienable rights?  What do you think Jefferson might have included in his list to make it more thorough? 

(5) According to this paragraph, what is the source of governments' power?

(6) What is Jefferson's view of people's attitudes towards bad governments?  Do you agree with him?  Why or why not?

(7) Under what circumstances are people justified in overthrowing their governments?  Does this same logic apply to teacher-student relations?  To parent-child relations?  Would it have applied to master-slave relations in late 18th century colonial America?  Why/why not?  Under what circumstances are people NOT justified in overthrowing their government?  What would Jefferson say about the attempted impeachment of Nixon (1974)?  The impeachment of Clinton (1999)?  The secession of the southern states in the 1860's?

(8) How do the colonies view themselves politically?  Cite specific phrases to justify your position.

(9) Is this a dangerous document?

(10) Do you think that Jefferson has given a convincing argument for why the colonies should separate?  If you do think so, detail his full argument in your own words.  If you think not, explain either a better argument or explain why the colonies should not have sought independence.

Special attention should be paid to the thirty-six vocabulary words indicated in boldface in this paragraph.  Be wary of false cognates (words that seem like they mean something but actually have an entirely different meaning).  After addressing the vocabulary, answer the study questions above.

We 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 -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present King of Great-Britain is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having in direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.

1. self-evident

2. endowed

3. unalienable

4. Rights

5. instituted

6. deriving

7. just

8. Consent

9. Ends

10. alter

11. abolish

12. effect

13. Prudence

14. dictate

15. transient

16. Causes

17. accordingly

18. hath shewn

19. disposed

20. suffer

21. sufferable

22. to right

23. accustomed

24. Train

25. Usurpations

26. invariably

27. Object

28. evinces

29. Design

30. reduce

31. absolute Despotism

32. Sufferance

33. constrains

34. absolute Tyrrany

35. States

36. candid