Declaration of Independence in Casts of Thought

Language of the Declaration of Independence

We are so familiar with the language of the Declaration of Independence that it comes as something of a surprise to us to examine its previous incarnations. Of course on the one hand we should not be surprised that the first draft should have required some revisions - although as our readings note it is in fact astonishing how polished and complete Thomas Jefferson's original draft is. One should hardly expect that such an important document should spring forth - like Athena - ready made. However, what is striking about the three versions of the Declaration of Independence that we have read for this assignment is how the differences in these three drafts help to illuminate the political and philosophical differences amongst those who were leading the colonies to independence.

It is all too easy for us, looking back over more than two centuries, to believe that the patriots who founded the nation were stalwartly unified in their approach to breaking free of the tyranny of the British monarchy. But while it is true that each of the men who helped to write the Declaration of Independence was concerned with the ways in which the British held power over the United States, in fact they held different ideas both about what an independent United States might look like as well as how it would be best for the Americans to go about claiming their independence.

One of the ironies of the Declaration of Independence, in all of its versions, is, of course, that the Americans had already declared their independence from Britain. This document in no way served to declare something to the English and their king that was not already public knowledge. Rather, especially in Jefferson's first version, is was designed to serve as notice to the world at large of the reasons why the Americans wanted their independence.

The idea of liberty as the greatest of virtues and national sovereignty as a supreme right seem such obvious concepts to us today that we must remind ourselves that they have not always held such high stature. Jefferson had to explain to the world why liberty was for the Americans more precious than loyalty.

The changes that James Madison made in the second version of the Declaration of Independence were relatively minor, certainly less important than those made by Benjamin Franklin in his third version. In this last version, Franklin struck some of the phrases penned by his predecessors that he believed placed the blame for the oppression of the Americans on the British people rather than on king and parliament. He argued that the Americans had no real quarrel with the English people but only with those who set policy.