Jonathan's Discussion Questions Nov. 8/9
Please re-read the Declaration of Independence, which can be found on the online reader or in the Enlightenment reader or in the back of the textbook. If the purpose of this document was to simply state the reasons for American separation from Britain, why did Jefferson feel the need to use language referring to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"? Also read Thomas Paine's Common Sense, to be found on the online reader. Was his assessment of the situation between the colonies and Britain accurate? Why or why not?
posted by Jonathan Jones at 1:32 PM
22 Comments:
Obviously the point of the Declaration of Independence was to declare separation from Britain, but it also made other statements. If they had wanted to simply declare indenpence, I don't think that the authors would have spent so much time on the document. The Declaration of Independence also serves as a statement of the Americans' discontent at the way they had been treated by the British and a final assertion that they simply wouldn't take it anymore. By using the words "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," Jefferson refers to all the basic rights that the Americans had been deprived of while under British rule.
Even though some of Paine's arguments aren't extremely strong (ie- "an island can't rule a continent" or "America isn't a British nation because there are non-British people living in America) the overall goal of the publication of "Common Sense" is, nonetheless acomplished. I think that his assessment of the situation between Britain and the colonies is fair...they did not treat the Americans fairly, which was their primary grievance.
The purpose of the Declaration was to state reasons for separation, but it wasn't simply a list of England's wrongdoings. Thomas Jefferson referred to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" to emphasize the rights that all men are supposedly entitled to, according to Locke. One of the main reasons the colonists split with Britain was that they felt that they would never have rights equal to people living in Britain, and Jefferson is just emphasizing the importance of these rights to the colonists.
Thomas Paine's goal in writing Common Sense was to rally colonists behind the fight for independance. Even though some of his points about the situation weren't exceptionally strong or accurate, it got the job done. For example, Paine says (basically) that believing America should stay with Britain is like believing babies shouldn't eat meat because they're raised on milk. Babies' diets is a lot less complicated that a country's politics and Paine simplifies the situation a lot...but the arguement sounds good so people would get behind it.
The Declaration was to declare indepdence from Britain,yes. But also it was too declare that they were becoming a new nation. Jefferson and the oter founding fathers wanted something to build a new young country around. If they just declared independence they would have had mass chaos in the states of who was in charge during a war that was soon to follow this writing of such a famous paper. They wanted freedom but over all they wanted to start thier new country and with that they put down rules and guidlines and also some emotional movers that would make people get excited about freedom.
Common Sense was a good assessment. He is very powerful in the way he speaks. My favorite part is where he says an island can not rule a contient. I agree with this whole heartly because of the simple fact that they were across the ocean and as little as they were they were trying to rule such a big peice of land. Also even if you don't agree with what he is saying it doesn't matter, at the time this is what was needed. He made people change their minds about Britain and want to fight for their freedom.
The Declaration of Independence was created to declare that the colonies were breaking away from the British rule. But this was only the main purpose of the Declaration. It also stated why they colonies were breaking away from british rule. The unalienable rights (life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness) was written in the declaration to state rights that colonist believed they were entitled to but britian was not giving them. Jefferson felt like he had to back up reasons for independece from britian. He had to show the colonists and Britian why they were breaking away.
Common sense was written to get more colonist behind the indepence. I would have to say to common sense is a pretty good assesment of the situatio between the colonies and Britain. Because "But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young; nor savages make war upon their families; wherefore the assertion, if true, turns to her reproach; but it happens not to be true, or only partly so, and the phrase parent or mother country hath been jesuitically adopted by the king and his parasites, with a low papistical design of gaining an unfair bias on the credulous weakness of our minds."
The over all point of the Declaration of Independence was to announce to Britain and to all colonists first that they wanted independence, but also to outlines reasons why they wanted it. The Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness line is an allusion to slavery in that the colonists felt almost as if they were slaves because Britain was trying to control them without their consent or input. The line is their way of saying that being treated like slaves is unacceptable.
Many parts of Thomas Paine's Common Sense should be considered a fair assessment of the colonial situation, but over all the situation is exaggerated in his writing. One example is when he refers to the British as barbarians.
Colonists at the time were becoming disenchanted with Britain; In contrast to the pride they had once felt at being connected to one of the most liberal countries in the world, many began to feel that the "Rights of Englishmen" were inadequate. Jefferson voices this opinion through his statements in the Declaration, which thus not only separates the colonies from Britain through legal terms (the point of the document itself), but also defines America as a nation, giving each individual the ability to change "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" to fit their needs. Thomas Paine's mode of differentiating the colonies from Britain took a slightly less diplomatic turn; though Common Sense accurately described many colonist's opinions towards their mother country, it also carried an air of exaggeration, and was yellow journalism-esque in its descriptions of the king and his ruling system.
-Katie Woods
The Declaration of Independence was a written document stating the colonists' freedom from Britain which outlined reasons why the colonists decided to break away. The main purpose of this was to solidfy that the natural inherited rights of the colonists were being revoked by Britain. Thomas Jefferson eloquently wrote the Declaration of Independence which addressed why the colonists were seperating from Britain and proposed an new ideal nation.
Thomas Paine's Common Sense encouraged the colonists to support the cause of breaking free from Britain. The quotes "an island can't rule a continent" or "America isn't a British nation because there are non-British people living in America," appealed to the common people and dfiend the rebellion's goals of against monarchy. The Americans knew what they were fighting for, but Paine gave them something to be for which was a new form of government defined by constitutions.
In my opinion, I don’t feel like the document simply stated reasons for American separation from Britain, but listed all the things the King of Britain was doing wrong and all the freedoms they were denied because of him. These reasons did support their desires for separation, but also exaggerated the King as the tyrant that he was. Jefferson used the phrase, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in order to encompass all inalienable rights guaranteed to Americans and excite people about their new life separate from Britain.
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was a very accurate representation of the situation between the colonies and Britain. Obviously, the Americans felt the same way about the fact that “an island can’t rule a continent” in that they felt that such a small country so far away couldn’t do much to alter their new way of life.
The Declaration of Independence was the colonists' declaration to Britain that they wanted their freedom from their oppressive ruling, and they also wanted to establish themselves as a united nation. They were able to do this with Thomas Jefferson's rhetoric of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" for all. The assertion of that phrase would entitle not only unalienable rights for all, but also would show Britain their ability to unite during this time.
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" is correct assessment of the situation between the colonists and Britain. This is true because Paine asserts that "America would have flourished as much, and probably much more, had no European power had any thing to do with her." That quote says it all, and explains Paine's feelings about how the British hindered the growth of America.
The Declaration of Independece was the message the colonist sent to Britian telling them they wanted to break away from the crown. They told them they wanted to become a united nation with out them. Thomas Jeffereson used the terms life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to tell all his country men what they would get with america and what they would get away from Britian.
Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" so a true accurate assement of the situation between Britain and America. He showed the fact that america could flourish with out britain saying that an island cant rule over a conninent.
The Declaration of Independence stated to England that the colonists were breaking away from Britain and were forming their own nation. The use of the line “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” shows the desire of the colonists to be completely free. Many of our founding fathers believed that if the colonists did not separate from Britain, then they were to become slaves.
Common Sense was written to encourage the colonists to support the idea of independence. I agree with Paine’s statements and believe that his views are a good assessment of the situation between America and Britain. “An island can not rule a continent,” this statement describes the situation very well. Americans did not want to follow the policies of a government that was an ocean away, and many did not feel as if the government had the colonists’ best interests in mind.
Jefferson used the language of “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness,” because he wanted to state the rights that he thought the American people needed. The British did not allow the Americans these rights and this is why the Declaration of Independence was written. Yes, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense represents the situation between the colonies and Britain accurately. He states that Britain could not rule America because it is an island not a continent. He states the “common sense” of why Americans should be free from the British.
Jefferson used life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to describe how America was going to be when they separated from Britain. They would have total freedom when they separated from Britain and have a happy life.
Thomas Paines assesment in Common Sense is accurate because it states that an island cannot rule a continent.
Thomas Jefferson basically stole the term "life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness" from arguably one of the greatest Enlightment philosophers, John Locke. Instead, he used "pursuit of happiness" instead of "property." This was important because Jefferson wanted to make the inferrence that the people in America were being oppressed by their mother country. He justified their reason for declaring their independence by stating that the present government that their under isn't fair and restricts the people from their natural rights. Jefferson wanted to make the point loud and clear that the Americans weren't happy, and things need to change.
The Declaration of Independence was written not only to declare independence from Britain, but also to sate their feeling on the way Britain had treated them. By using the words "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," Jefferson is referring to all the basic rights that the British had taken away from the Americans.
In “Common Sense” Thomas Paine is rallying Americans to stand behind him for American independence. It was a exaggerated picture of what was really happening between Britain and America, but got the point across t o many colonists.
The Decleration of Independence was the message the colonist sent to the British letting them know that they wanted to get away from them and live their lives. Thomas Jefferson mentioned life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to explain to them that this is what you will be given if we follow through with this argument.
"Common Sense" is when Thomas Paine says that the British can not rule America because it is not a continent. This is also when all the people get together and stand up for American Independence.
Jefferson felt the need to use terms such as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for three reasons. The first reason being that it helps verbalize why independence is being sought after. If he had not included these words then people might not have been as likely to join in the independence cause. Additionally, these words were similar to the words used by others to promote these types of ideas. So he was just extending others’ ideas. The final reason that he might refer to images of this type is because they believed they were not receiving these “unalienable rights” while they were under British rule. All of the ideas tie together and relate to the idea of why America needed separation from England, which is what the entire Declaration of Independence is all about. Therefore, even when Jefferson uses language like “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” he is still stating reasons for American separation for Britain.
~Jennifer Claybrooks
The purpose of the declaration of independence was free and independent state from Britain. And America wants to establish their united nation themselves. Jefferson asserted about that all men have to have equal right, so he believed that “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” is made by their creator for the right, but British want to obey America; consequently, America proclaimed the declaration of independence for separating from British
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was assessment of the situation between the colonies and Britain. In fact, The Common Sense encouraged independence of America from British, and the Common Sense called for American independence.
Thomas Jefferson included the words 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" to follow in the footsteps of one of his biggest influences, John Locke. John Locke's idea of a social contract between governments and their people was a fascinating concept to Jefferson who came from a time where governments did as they pleased. Jefferson felt that governments should have a responsibility to their citizens, and that if that social contract is ever broken that it is the "duty" of the citizens to rise up as one against their oppressive rulers. The idea that the government should give up some power to their people and that the people should give some power to their government was the social contract idea that led Jefferson to include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (originally the pursuit of property) to the constitution.
Thomas Jefferson used language such as "life, liberty,and the pursuit of happiness" because the Declaration of Independence was much more than a document stating American seperation from Britian. This document was stating the philosophy behind the movement, which was linked to the philosophy of John Locke. They believed that the Enlightenment was an opportunity for people to establish their individuality and individualism not only from Britian but from a dictating government in general.
Thomas Paine's writings were more of a emotional plea. His audience was more of the everyman, the colonialists, to which he was trying to sway. His assessment may have been somewhat exaggerated, but this only helped his cause to reach their emotions.
The Declaration of Independence is a very important document in how it not only states the beliefs of Americans in how we believe that we as a country are to be a free nation. Jefferson used these words to explain that we are to be completely free and that we are to have no association with Britain. It is to say that we do not have rights of an Englishman, we are to have rights of an American, natural rights.
Thomas Paine is an author who tends to exagerate everything to make people excited. It was his duty, he believed, to lead this country to a revolution. His overall assessment of the situation between Britain and the colonies was true even though some of his arguments were pretty weak and unsound. He did get his point across though and helped ignite a struggle for freedom.
The Declaration of Independence is a formal list of grievances that the American colonies had toward the British government. The Declaration may “simply state the reasons for American separation” yet the broader message is how American’s think their country should be treated and run. The British have denied the “unalienable rights” of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Jefferson also states that governments are formed to protect these rights, and that the government’s power comes from the people. And if the government becomes “destructive” then the people have the right to abolish the failed government. The point of the language that Jefferson uses is to solidify the argument that the British violated the basic rights the American’s believe they should have. The statement of separation is the purpose of the Declaration yet the colonies also are starting to lay the foundation of the new government.
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