What is the purpose of the Declaration of Independence as stated in the first paragraph?
The introductory sentence states the Declaration’s main purpose, to explain the colonists’ right to revolution. In other words, “to declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” Congress had to prove the legitimacy of its cause.
What did the original Declaration of Independence say about slavery?
What isn’t widely known, however, is that Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, in an early version of the Declaration, drafted a 168-word passage that condemned slavery as one of the many evils foisted upon the colonies by the British crown. The passage was cut from the final wording.
Why was the fourteenth amendment necessary if the Declaration of Independence stated that all men were created equal?
It conferred both national and state citizenship upon birth, thereby protecting the legal status of the newly freed slaves. And finally, the Fourteenth Amendment introduced the ideal of equality to the Constitution for the first time, promising “equal protection of the laws.”
How were the colonists treated unfairly?
They protested, saying that these taxes violated their rights as British citizens. The colonists started to resist by boycotting, or not buying, British goods. Many people in America felt their concerns were not being heard, and this caused more unhappiness in the colonies.
What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence answers com?
The main purpose of America’s Declaration of Independence was to explain to foreign nations why the colonies had chosen to separate themselves from Great Britain. The Revolutionary War had already begun, and several major battles had already taken place.
Why was slavery ignored in the Declaration of Independence?
The decision to remove references to slavery was political necessity. Those who drafted the Declaration believed that it was better to remove the section dealing with slavery than risk a long debate over the issue of slavery. They needed the support for independence from the southern states.
How many slaves did Jefferson own when he wrote the Declaration of Independence?
600
How many people did Thomas Jefferson own? Thomas Jefferson enslaved over 600 human beings throughout the course of his life. 400 people were enslaved at Monticello; the other 200 people were held in bondage on Jefferson’s other properties.
How was the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment instrumental in winning equality for African Americans during the civil rights movement?
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including former enslaved people—and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of the laws.” One of three amendments passed during the Reconstruction era to abolish slavery and …
What does equal protection under the law mean?
equal protection, in United States law, the constitutional guarantee that no person or group will be denied the protection under the law that is enjoyed by similar persons or groups. In other words, persons similarly situated must be similarly treated.
Are men equal before God?
Men were equal before God. Each person is precious in and of himself. He has unalienable rights, rights that no one else is entitled to invade. He is entitled to serve his own purposes and not to be treated simply as an instrument to promote someone else’s purposes. “Liberty” is part of the definition of equality, not in conflict with it.
What is the importance of equality before God?
Equality before God—personal equality—is important precisely because people are not identical. Their different values, their different tastes, their different capacities will lead them to want to lead very different lives. Personal equality requires respect for their right to do so, not the imposition on them of someone else’s values or judgment.
Does liberty conflict with equality before God?
That is still its dominant meaning to most citizens of the United States. Neither equality before God nor equality of opportunity presented any conflict with liberty to shape one’s own life. Quite the opposite. Equality and liberty were two faces of the same basic value—that every individual should be regarded as an end in himself.
Why should we care about personal equality?
Their different values, their different tastes, their different capacities will lead them to want to lead very different lives. Personal equality requires respect for their right to do so, not the imposition on them of someone else’s values or judgment. Jefferson had no doubt that some men were superior to others, that there was an elite.