Overview
The Declaration can be divided between two parts. The first section, consisting of the first two paragraphs, can be considered the philosophical section, which gives the theoretical reasoning for independence. The first paragraph details what the Declaration is trying to declare. The second is the summation of Lockean philosophy that I briefly mentioned above.
The second is the list of grievances that the Continental Congress argued were the specific violations of their rights. The “He” being addressed is King George III that became the focus of ire for the colonists. However, it is important to remember that the Parliament, particularly the House of Commons, were passing the laws that helped spark the Revolution. As best you can, answer the following questions:
- What are the “unalienable” rights listed and what do you think they mean?
- What does the Declaration say governments are for? What are “the people” allowed to do when governments become “destructive of these ends”?
- What seems to be the main theme or themes in the specific grievances? In other words, what problems with the King does the Declaration seem to be focusing on?