Important Event: Declaration of Independence
An important movement in history, involving delicate wording and politics, was the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This one small paper led to a cascade of events that included a country being founded that has thrived for centuries. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, but before it being adopted and signed it was edited by Congress. There were many variations spread out but all were based off that same signed version. It is important to look at who Jefferson and the Congress had in mind when creating the final draft; the British, other European nations, the American colonist themselves, and more importantly the war that was only just beginning the Revolutionary War. The colonial people were addressed by having their unalienable rights such as "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." and ‘’that all men are created equal.’’ stated clearly. In this document Jefferson explained to the colonists what the governments must do for them and what they must do for the government. It explained that the governments exist to support the rights of men and it exists only through the power of the people that they represent. It also explains that when a government fails to grant rights to the people and removes the involvement of the people, the people have the right to change their government in a way that will allow for their unalienable rights to be protected. At the time the United States was still beginning while other countries have been working on their governments and industries for hundreds of years. The Declaration of Independence had to appeal to other European countries so it was worded very carefully, clarifying that governments should not be overthrown for insignificant causes. The Spanish, who had much silver and gold, supported the new United States’ currency. By making this clear in the declaration, the United States would be seen as open to the idea of making alliances and not seen as militant, but instead as a new peaceful country open to immigration.
The American Revolutionary War had started a year before and the declaration was widely distributed and used as a type of propaganda to unite the colonists. In the Declaration, King George