Tuesday, April 21, 2020

The Declaration of Independence Part 4: The Government has failed

The colonists have just laid out all of their issues with the British government and with the King.
In part two of this series, I mentioned the "Olive Branch Petition," the last attempt at ending these feuds peacefully. There were many other attempts and in part 4 of the Declaration of Independence, the writers laid out what they had tried in the past.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
This part states that they have sent repeated petitions to the British government, begging for changes, but instead of problems being fixed, they were made worse. It also says that any leader who does those types of things is a tyrant. Free people can not be ruled by a tyrant. The King did not see the colonists as "free" people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. 
The colonists don't want to be ruled by Brittan (not wanting their attention). The colonists have told
the British that the laws that they make over 3,000 miles away don't make sense and the colonists don't want to follow their laws. They don't understand why the British government thinks they can rule the colonies. One of the reasons they moved away from Britan was so they could be free!
We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
The colonists have told them. They have tried to be loyal British subjects, but it just isn't working. The British government is not listening and, because of that, they are no longer needed. The last sentence is leading the reader into the actual declaration. It says that they will be separated and maybe enemies, or friends, depending on the circumstances.

This part of the Declaration of Independence is the transition from what the colonists know to be true, and what they are going to do about it. Visit next week to find out what they do about it.

Part 5: Free and Independent will cover maybe the most pivotal section of writing to ever take place prior to the drafting of the Constitution.

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Here is a link to the Declaration of Independence so you can read it yourself:
Declaration of Independence




Post your comments below. What do you think about this part of the Declaration of Independence?




Resources:


Hart, D., Bower, B., & Lobdell, J. (2002). History alive. Palo Alto, CA: Teachers Curriculum Institute.

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