AP History Essay

Declaration of Independence is considered one of the most important documents in world history because its effects were felt around the world and not only in its place of origin, the United States. While blacks used context from the declaration to challenge slavery in the United States, the French used its ideals to start their own revolution. The Declaration of Independence can be seen to be one of the few documents that had a profound impact on the world, and this can be easily seen because of the changes it brought forth.

The Declaration of Independence was a document made by several delegates of the U.S. in 1776. It was simply made as a document that declared the independence of the 13 British colonies in America. On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration after a few changes were made to it. Even though I think the Declaration’s main purpose was to declare the colonies independent, there were many other ideas the declaration addressed.

There are many important abstractions in the Declaration of Independence. These abstractions such as: rights, freedom, liberty and happiness have become the foundations of American society and have helped shape the “American identity”. Power, another abstraction that reoccurs in all major parts of the Declaration plays equally important role in shaping “American identity”. One forgets the abstraction of power because it appears in relation to other institutions: the King, the earth, and the military. Even though power is addressed very indirectly in the declaration its existence is still valued. All of these important abstractions collectively have led to major changes in the world.

A very simple phrase: “all men are created equal” which is included in the Declaration of Independence was quickly used by blacks in the U.S. to question slavery. They wondered if all men were indeed created equal then how could one man own another man. “The ideal of equity led Northern states to free slaves within their borders in the 1780s, 1790s and 1800s”. (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000). We can give the Declaration credit for starting the movement against slavery. We all know by now how important it was to get rid of slavery in order to make and keep the U.S. a democratic and just country.

Another important movement that the Declaration of Independence helped start was the women’s rights movement. The phrase “all men are created equal” was slightly changed to “all men and woman are created equal”. This amended phrase was the basis of the start of the woman’s rights movement and women’s suffrage movement, and it was used throughout the 20th century in order for women to gain equal rights as men. These rights were such as the ability to own land, the ability to vote, and the ability to hold public office.

“Other groups have focused of the Declaration of Independence’s defense of the rights to rebel against an unjust government”. (Microsoft Encarta encyclopedia 2000). According to historians the Declaration of Independence influenced many Latin American colonies to rebel against their mother countries. The Declaration Of Independence was used to inspire the creation the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in France. This document was adopted by the National Assembly of France in 1789, and led to French stability. This is just insight on some of the global impact the Declaration of Independence, making it worthy to be labeled one of the most important documents in would history.

In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence can be said to be one of the most important documents in would history, according to the facts that were presented in this argument. It is amazing how a document which was intended to effect only a single country, could effect the whole world. In my opinion the whole world “matured” as a direct result of the creation of the Declaration of independence. If you stop to think about it, where would the world be today, if the Declaration of Independence had not been created?

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