Eng 48A
Journal on Jefferson
11/18/09
Thomas Jefferson
1743-1826
"We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;" (Norton Pg 652)
"Do you recollect the pensive and awful silence which pervaded the house when we were called up, one after another, to the table of the President of Congress to subscribe what was believed by many at that time to be our own death warrants?" (Benjamin Rush's Letter to Adams, Spur of Fame)
"This act was called by General Green a "bold speculation." It was happily a successful one. Human wisdom had derived more honor from it than it deserves. Most of the men who had been active in bringing it about, were blind actors in the business." (An Account of Political and Military Events and Observations, Benjamin Rush)
The first quote is taken from the second paragraph of Thomas Jefferson's A Declaration By The Representatives of The United States of America, In General Congress Assembled. A seemingly strange way to begin what is considered to be the document that lead to the American Revolution, Jefferson doesn't start by bringing up the concept of revolution, but the idea of equality, and of man's inherent inalienable rights. Granting moral support for the revolution to come, Jefferson speaks of equality, and puts across one of the most controversial quotes of all time, saying that all men are created equal. In a world of kings, this statement seems far from the truth, but Jefferson isn't appealing to man's reason, rather he is appealing to his hope, and sense of moral justice. Jefferson's words are not meant for King George, they are a cry out to all mankind carrying with them the philosophy that all men deserve to be free. The title of the document gives itself away by being called a declaration. Jefferson isn't writing to the king, he is writing to the world, saying that men should be equal. His words don't just promote freedom and equality, however, he even goes so far as to subtly accept religious freedom by using the word 'Creator' instead of God. It begs one to wonder whether these men knew that their words would be echoed throughout the centuries. In their carefully chosen words however, this document means as much now as it did then.
The Second and Third quote were taken from letters by Benjamin Rush, and they put into perspective, just how daunting the creation of the Declaration of Independence was to those that signed it. As Rush says, at the time, they were practically signing their own death warrants. It really goes to show how much hope and idealism was put into the writing. I believe the declaration would have come out quite differently if there hadn't been so much at stake. If anything, it was it's daring that defined it. It wasn't speaking of reality, but of an existence that they believed should exist. It was idealism in action, and we owe a great deal to their bold words even today. They put everything on the line, and they came out with it all. In effect, they were saying, we may die tomorrow, but we live today, in the hope of achieving something better, and luckily, they did.
"Do you recollect the pensive and awful silence which pervaded the house when we were called up, one after another, to the table of the President of Congress to subscribe what was believed by many at that time to be our own death warrants?" (Benjamin Rush's Letter to Adams, Spur of Fame)
"This act was called by General Green a "bold speculation." It was happily a successful one. Human wisdom had derived more honor from it than it deserves. Most of the men who had been active in bringing it about, were blind actors in the business." (An Account of Political and Military Events and Observations, Benjamin Rush)
The first quote is taken from the second paragraph of Thomas Jefferson's A Declaration By The Representatives of The United States of America, In General Congress Assembled. A seemingly strange way to begin what is considered to be the document that lead to the American Revolution, Jefferson doesn't start by bringing up the concept of revolution, but the idea of equality, and of man's inherent inalienable rights. Granting moral support for the revolution to come, Jefferson speaks of equality, and puts across one of the most controversial quotes of all time, saying that all men are created equal. In a world of kings, this statement seems far from the truth, but Jefferson isn't appealing to man's reason, rather he is appealing to his hope, and sense of moral justice. Jefferson's words are not meant for King George, they are a cry out to all mankind carrying with them the philosophy that all men deserve to be free. The title of the document gives itself away by being called a declaration. Jefferson isn't writing to the king, he is writing to the world, saying that men should be equal. His words don't just promote freedom and equality, however, he even goes so far as to subtly accept religious freedom by using the word 'Creator' instead of God. It begs one to wonder whether these men knew that their words would be echoed throughout the centuries. In their carefully chosen words however, this document means as much now as it did then.
The Second and Third quote were taken from letters by Benjamin Rush, and they put into perspective, just how daunting the creation of the Declaration of Independence was to those that signed it. As Rush says, at the time, they were practically signing their own death warrants. It really goes to show how much hope and idealism was put into the writing. I believe the declaration would have come out quite differently if there hadn't been so much at stake. If anything, it was it's daring that defined it. It wasn't speaking of reality, but of an existence that they believed should exist. It was idealism in action, and we owe a great deal to their bold words even today. They put everything on the line, and they came out with it all. In effect, they were saying, we may die tomorrow, but we live today, in the hope of achieving something better, and luckily, they did.
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