DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: THOMAS JEFFERSON

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: THOMAS JEFFERSON

Introduction

Declaration of independence is considered to be a vital document in American history which was drafted by the founding fathers to demonstrate independence from the British and illustrated their willingness to fight. The writing of the declaration officializes the American Revolution (Wills, G., 2018). The main purpose of this document was to declare independence and demonstrated how the American society is dissimilar from others. It expressed the mindset that American people held and elements for forming the American heritage including conflicts in issues associated with politics, religion, economy, philosophy, and society.

The issues mentioned above pretentious colonists and influenced them to execute activities which enabled them to get control of the government. Creation of declaration influences American thinking ways and utilized ideologies which were already in existence. Several early colonies were created since people were in need of religious freedom, despite them having limitations for the subject. The individuals who settled in America were escaping from bad memories associated with intolerance. Europe had experienced over a century period of civil wars and disturbance from religious conflicts. The settlers in reaction unified for one religion to promote stability, morality, and harmony (Jefferson, T., 2015). The newer colonies were able to support freedom of worship even though the traditional beliefs associated with religion was under attack since lucid thinking resulted in initial great awakening. A huge number of colonists converted to Christianity which resulted in spiritual equality a condition which brought revolutionary essence through tolerance of diversity.

Even though Jefferson indicated in his publications equality of men, he was able to enslave approximately over six hundred individuals during his lifetime. Thomas Jefferson was able to make attempts about slavery; he also gained directly from it and expressed that white people were superior to blacks. During Jefferson’s life has was openly against slavery and referred to the act as “moral depravity” and believed that it was a threat to the development of America. The expressed that slavery was against the rules of nature and he proposed that every individual posed a right of personal liberation (Jayne, A., 2015). During American Revolution, Thomas was involved in legislation hoping that it would influence the abolishment of slavery and during 1778 he wrote Virginia rule that was against importing of African slaves. Thomas Jefferson believed that the freeing of slaves would be a step towards the democratic procedure. According to Jefferson, it was against the revolution of America for partial release of slaves and continuously advocated for the abolishment of slavery. To support his Virginian law, he was against farming of crops which relied on labor from slaves and supported the introduction of wine grapes, wheat, olive trees, sugar maples and rice that required no intense workforce.

Until his death, his belief in the abolishment of slavery and supported a gradual plan for the emancipation of the slaves. According to Jefferson his declaration for enacted of a plan that supported abolishing of transatlantic trading of slaves and the owners of the slaves should improve life conditions such as minimizing violent acts on the slaves and enhancing their living conditions (Jefferson, T., 2018). He also declared a particular period that slaves were to be free which is followed by the full abolishment of slavery. On his day, he proposed the removal of slaves from America; this plan was geared towards improving actions upon slavery which was associated with racism. Thomas Jefferson believed that whites and black slaves constituted two distinct nations that could not coexist peacefully in the same country. Jefferson was proposed to write the declaration since he was an excellent writer and it contributed to its fame after editing the declaration for two days.

Thomas Jefferson association with slavery was hard to comprehend and at some point, he believed that the whites were superior and intelligent than the blacks even though the act was inhuman and should be ended. Lack of a practical way to end slavery was a challenge since the coexistence of both races would lead to a civil war. Slavery was considered an important part of the economic system and developed critics against it through moral perspectives despite taking no action towards it (Jayne, A., 2015). Jefferson left resolution of the problem for generations to come and his second congress which was continental was jaded and denunciation associated with slavery from the declaration disappointed him especially when it was published in 1776. When his contributions were known in 1784, it gave him fame even though later on he opted to quit after his replacement. His contributions made him a prominent figure in the politics of America

Conclusion

Even though Thomas Jefferson was a slave’s owner, his position was to end slavery which he illustrated through various acts and legislation. His position in regarding the topic supported bringing an end to slavery. This paper has focused on answering the second question in the assignment paper which seeks to answer if the position of Thomas Jefferson invalidated the declaration that supported the formation of new America which supported aspects such as equality of humankind among other elements.

Reference

Wills, G. (2018). Inventing America: Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Vintage.

Jefferson, T. (2015). The Declaration of Independence of The United States of America. Prabhat Prakashan.

Jayne, A. (2015). Jefferson’s Declaration of independence: origins, philosophy, and theology. University Press of Kentucky.

Jefferson, T. (2018). Autobiography (1743-1790). Seltzer Books via PublishDrive.