Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence

(1) What do you consider to be the most graceful sentence in the entire Declaration? (2) Where is it placed in the Declaration? (3) What purpose does it serve?

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776. At the time, the King of Great Britain ruled over the people living in the thirteen colonies of what is today the United States. Jefferson, among many scholars, in response to the people wanting to break ties with Great Britain wrote the Declaration of Independence to suit their needs. The most graceful sentence in the entire Declaration, located at the end, is, "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor" (81).

King George ruled as a Tyrant. The King would not accept laws, but he forced his people to follow his will. Men could not expect to live lavish lives and the King's armies ruled above civil power. Jefferson feels as though "All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness [ . . . . ] 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 [ . . . ]" (78). Thus, the people had a need to break from the King.

Jefferson explained even more reasons why the colonists should break from Great Britain. He said the King cut off their trade with all parts of the world, imposed taxes without the people's consent, and deprived the people of trial by jury. The King obviously neglected his people. So, in response, the people acted justly by promptly breaking away from Great Britain.

The significance of the sentence, "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor," is quite easy to see now (81). The people felt neglected by the King and broke apart to establish their own government. The sentence concluded their separation from Great Britain and the King's rule. What makes the sentence graceful is the concluding manner of the Declaration by telling the King the people intend to work together. The sentence both declares and states the King has lost power over his men. Jefferson, of course believes a great government is based on the consent and will of the people, and so, by working together, they have essentially escaped the King's rule by designing a better government.

The Declaration of Independence developed a new government. The colonists became content in their newly acquired freedoms. Jefferson also gracefully stated, "The good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do" (81).
Work Cited

Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of Independence." A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. 6th ed. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Boston: Bedford, 2002. 78-81.