Declaration of Independence FRQ
As an act of rebellion, the citizens of The New World wrote The Declaration of Independence, which was aimed towards the British Rule. This historical document has been interpreted in many of ways. Some people claim it to be written as a bid for French support and an attempt to swing uncommitted Americans, while others analyzed it as a new list of human rights. To an extent, these analyses of the document conflict with each other.
One interpretation of the Declaration is that it was a plea for French support in the Revolution. Shortly before this, the French had previously lost to the British during The French and Indian War, and were seeking revenge, so to the rebellious colonist, it was the perfect alliance. However, others interpret the document as an attempt to swing uncommitted Americans. The Declaration itself states, “When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty. To throw off such a government.” The reference to the government is referring to the controlling British rule. The world power of the country has ‘gone to their heads’ so to speak, and by limiting the freedom of the colonist with laws such as The Stamp Act, The Sugar Act, and the navigation act, which include a raise or decline in tax, cause the colonist to lose money. This extra money going to the British is used to pay their war debt. These two interpretations do not conflict with the ideals of the American citizens rights.
There are known to be interpretations of the Declaration that state it was written to declare a new, universal list of human rights. However, this does not happen to conflict with the idea that leaders attempted to swing uncommitted Americans to the cause of the revolution. Both the Universal Principals, and Traditional Rights agree that every English man has the right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of...