American Declaration of Independece
The United States' Declaration of Independence was written on the 4th og July, 1776. It was signed by representatives of the 13 colonies as a response to years of abuses and harrassmrnts from the British. It was believed to be completely necessary and respectful to both God's and Natural Law.
I agree with historian Howard Zinn that this Declaration was just a weapon used by the upper classes of society to create an army of people willing to fight the English, protecting this way the economical interests of the priviledged.
The document argued that the natural state of mankind is freedom, and that the British King went against this freedom. According to Enlightenment principles, men have been given certain rights by God and these were inalienable. Among these rights were life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The Enlightenment movement promoted individual liberty, freedom of expression and democracy. We can see these included in the document, that agrees with most philosophers of the time such as John Locke, and defends that the power of a government comes from the consent of the governed. However, Zinn doesn't think these ideological enlightened ideas were shared nor reasoned by all members of society. The historian argues that the wealthy classes wanted to persuade the lower classes to fight against the English, and they wrote this Declaration to convince them. A proof of this is the language used, extremely vague and stirring. The Declaration built a patriotic feeling that lasts until our days, but actually it omitted minorities like indians, slaves or even women.
And in spite of the fact that enlightenment ideas were meant for everybody, most of the grievances of the list in the DoI affected only wealthy and powerful members of the Bourgeouisie, or did taxes imposed on the upper classes really bother the peasants? Or did every single person actually had the opportunity to be elected for the government?
As on the Howard Zinn's website is explained, the Independence achieved in a war which took the lives of 50,000 people wasn't a victory for all americans, just for some. Indians lost their rights and the protection the English used to give them, and slavery was still legal despite all the blurb defending liberty and life.
I agree with historian Howard Zinn that this Declaration was just a weapon used by the upper classes of society to create an army of people willing to fight the English, protecting this way the economical interests of the priviledged.
The document argued that the natural state of mankind is freedom, and that the British King went against this freedom. According to Enlightenment principles, men have been given certain rights by God and these were inalienable. Among these rights were life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The Enlightenment movement promoted individual liberty, freedom of expression and democracy. We can see these included in the document, that agrees with most philosophers of the time such as John Locke, and defends that the power of a government comes from the consent of the governed. However, Zinn doesn't think these ideological enlightened ideas were shared nor reasoned by all members of society. The historian argues that the wealthy classes wanted to persuade the lower classes to fight against the English, and they wrote this Declaration to convince them. A proof of this is the language used, extremely vague and stirring. The Declaration built a patriotic feeling that lasts until our days, but actually it omitted minorities like indians, slaves or even women.
And in spite of the fact that enlightenment ideas were meant for everybody, most of the grievances of the list in the DoI affected only wealthy and powerful members of the Bourgeouisie, or did taxes imposed on the upper classes really bother the peasants? Or did every single person actually had the opportunity to be elected for the government?
As on the Howard Zinn's website is explained, the Independence achieved in a war which took the lives of 50,000 people wasn't a victory for all americans, just for some. Indians lost their rights and the protection the English used to give them, and slavery was still legal despite all the blurb defending liberty and life.
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