The Declaration of Independence: A Study in the History of Political Ideas

Project Gutenberg

by Carl Lotus Becker

‘Carl Becker explains the Declaration as a classic document of the Age of Enlightenment, a conscious product of the natural rights philosophy of John Locke and other British thinkers, and a text that spoke powerfully to an international audience.’ The New York Times This important study of the Declaration of Independence compares early drafts of the Declaration with the final version to discuss what influenced its conception; why it came about; and how it was interpreted by successive generations. Drawing on key philosophers of the Enlightenment period, such as Descartes, Rousseau, and John Locke, Becker explores the revolutionary tradition in the Western world, which for the American Founding Fathers was inspired heavily by the earlier Civil Wars in England, and the protest writers of pre-Revolutionary France. Becker’s thought-provoking analysis of the Declaration makes clear its importance to both the students of American history and of liberty. ‘Still one of the great analyses of the Declaration of Independence explaining section by section the history and philosophy behind it.’ Library Thing Carl Lotus Becker (September 7, 1873 – April 10, 1945) was an American historian. He was John Wendell Anderson Professor of History in the Department of History at Cornell University from 1917 to 1941. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1923. He was best known for The Heavenly City of the Eighteenth-Century Philosophers (1932), four lectures on The Enlightenment delivered at Yale University, and this work, The Declaration of Independence—A Study in the History of Political Ideas was first published in 1922.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Classics, Philosophy, American History, Reference

149 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1776

About the author

Carl Lotus Becker was an American historian. He is best known for The Heavenly City of the Eighteenth-Century Philosophers (1932), four lectures on The Enlightenment delivered at Yale University. His assertion that philosophies, in the "Age of Reason," relied far more upon Christian assumptions than they cared to admit, has been influential, but has also been much attacked,

Cornell has recognized his work as an educator by naming one of its five new residential colleges the Carl Becker House.

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first thoughts, on the morning of July 4, 2017.

Put aside slavery and hypocrisy—if you can—for a moment, and read the first paragraph (71 words, 405 characters):

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Take note of the richness, the complexity of the language. The elegance of the style. The sophistication of the philosophical assumptions. Pause, for a few seconds, and consider the phrase “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind.”

Now compare it to Donald Trump’s latest three tweets, America. And weep for yourselves and for your children.

This time through, shortly after “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” I was struck by the following words:

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

It is time to dry our tears, and our childrens’ tears. To seek enlightenment concerning our rights and duties. And to continue to catalog the lengthening train of abuses and usurpations.

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good free edition

This founding document of an independent United States is just that and was not considered to be a governing document equivalent to the constitution. Some politicians and scholars have since tried to elevate it to that status. However it remains primarily a list of grievances against Great Britain and a list of justifications for declaring independence.

The declaration does also contain some general statements about human rights including the famous, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...." This particular declaration often causes some confusion. Of course I am not equal to the heavyweight boxing champion of the world or to an Einstein level genius. I am however equal under American law, have equal self evident rights and of course God's love is equal. He loves all, the weak and the strong, the half wit, the full wit and the extra wit. God's love covers us all. Which is a really good thing as we seem to be rapidly becoming a nation with a surfeit of half wits.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best non-book/theater piece/dialog/story/dialogue work ever written.

Astounding language and content it's the essence of the Revolutionary spirit as well as most of Jefferson's thoughts.

Isn't it awesome this is listed on goodreads?

[Zinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this document a couple times a year. Whenever I do, I wonder if the list of government abuses would be longer today.

How many millions of dollars per minute of interest does the American taxpayer get stuck with thanks to Congress?

How many months of forced labor does the average citizen work in order to pay their taxes? And how much do we pay with the hidden tax of inflation from the Federal Reserves' fiat money?

How many American citizens get killed in undeclared wars, where national security is not an issue, to support United Nations resolutions and the New World Order?

Don't get me wrong, I love the United States, but the further we stray from the Declaration and the Constitution, the sicker we become.

Restore the Republic! Vote Constitution Party!

[Sarah]

Well, this book started out with the historical analysis that I have come to love and admire from Becker. However, I was only in chapter two when he started making very odd spiritual analyses. I disagreed with some of his biblical interpretations, but I could have easily passed that over but when he stated that God was withdrawing more and more from man and letting nature's laws take over, that was it. That is neither biblically nor historically founded.
If you can ignore such claims, Becker is great at analyzing history and the declaration. I just didn't need to read this book enough to put up with that sort of thing.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've heard and read all of it in bits and pieces, but I've never read it in its entirety for myself, slowly.
It should be required reading for all people, everywhere.
I don't know why we never analyzed this document in grade school or university.

The ideas that resonate in this Declaration are common to the desires of all humans who can conceive an idea of "Freedom".
I'll be re-reading it.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this is random and I'm gonna delete it and write a proper review later, but I need to tell you guys something funny.

So basically we're studying this in school for AP Lang rhetorics or something of that sort, and usually the course is very sophisticated except guess what one of the questions on one of our quizzes says? The question is "Which of these uses ethos?" and literally one of the answers is "We are starving because the food, if you can call this slop "food," at our school is not fit for the lowest grub on this fine Earth!" 😂😭

Okay, sorry, had to share!

[Scott Flicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this many times but wanted to read it again with all the headlines over the confederate flag and the cause(s) of the civil war. What did Jefferson mean by "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." I think Americans have been arguing about this for over 200 years.

[Shelby · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars
I rated this book 2 stars simply because this book was one of those books that are just okay to read. I don´t really read history kind of because to me some are good and some are not so much. The reason I read this book is because I had to read it for one of my classes that I am taking. At first I thought for sure I was not going to like it because of the way it sounded. As I was reading this book I changed my mind about it. I was better than what I thought. I would not read this book again because it was not my favorites. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes reading about history.

[Jason Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this several times, and I'll sum it up for you:

"Dear England,

We're tired of this kid's table shit. You suck. We're out.

Sincerely,

The colonists"

The list of grievances lays it on a little thick in a couple of places, but this is still a kick-ass document. Our revolution served as an inspiration for several other upstart democracies/republics the world over in the ensuing years, and this was a major part of it. I read it once every year or two normally around the fourth of July. (The local paper makes it easy since they print it every year on the editorial page). I think it's important to remember how we got started, and reading this is a good way to do that. Yeah, it has its flaws and inconsistencies. People could argue about those until the cows come home, but we had to start somewhere. I'm a fan.

For the sake of full disclosure I was a history major in college, so naturally I'm a little biased about reading these kinds of things. I haven't done a damn thing with my degree except wander around town and tell people things like "Hey, did you know Dolley Madison did snuff?" I confess my BA's remunerative qualities are negligible in my case, but you can see it still comes in handy.

As for the Declaration, read it, man, read it!

Update, 7/4/17: I wrote this last night before I went to bed, and the paper has just made me a liar as it's not in there this year. But there's this quote from Samuel Eliot Morison who was an American historian. "If the American Revolution had produced nothing but the Declaration of Independence, it would have been worthwhile."

Update, 7/4/18: The paper had it in there this year. I'm relieved that things are back to normal.

[Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find it hard to write a review on this selection of Jefferson's works not for any fault of the editor, and certainly not the introduction by Michael Hardt which I thought an excellent standalone essay in and of itself. It is that Jefferson, to me at least, is a figure who wrote fantastic things, truly revolutionary things, but also wrote horrible things, and did horrible things as well. Jefferson that believer in natural human rights, equality, and brotherhood, owned slaves, laid the foundation for the American desolation of the Indian tribes, believed those of African descent as less than human, and believed women to be subservient to men. It's hard for me-as it is for many people-to rectify the two Jeffersons. One the noble, the other the contemptible. Both are offered in this selection and hence my mixed review.

[Jorgina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This organic document is the "arc and covenant" to the Constitution.

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect read for Independence Day.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the poetry that preludes the prose of the Constitution of the United States. A revolutionary document. How a group of men who couldn't agree on whether to keep the windows open or shut could come to agree on declaring independence is nothing short of a miracle. Jefferson had a genius in the power of writing persuasively. And the truths recorded therein are self-evident.

[نیلوفر رحمانیان · Rating 2 out of 5]

As it is kinda stupid, it is quite funny that i think even today such a text with a good reading may cause a revolution

[Miles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What to say about the Declaration? So much actually. We take too much of Jefferson’s rhetoric as true, when he was actually trying to justify a decision not even a majority of colonists supported. The most galling thing about the document are the calumnies concerning George III, who was actually a throughout decent man and the best monarch between William III and Victoria. We need to treat the Declaration cautiously. And we never should use it as a lens to interpret the for more important Constitution.

[Huda Aweys · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Declaration contains the reasons and rationales that led the states to their independence from the British Empire, as well as the principles of liberalism that led them to their rise and unity. The signing of this Declaration has included a number of brilliant names in the fields of literature and politics in America

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I gave four stars is I want a more nicely put together format with the bill of rights and such. I’m hoping this rating will remind me to someday peruse a paper baby store.

[Christy Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been said by some that there were no “long chain of abuses” for the early founders to protest. I wonder if these people have been so desensitized by modern abuses that what the colonists faced was nothing in comparison. The 27 abuses listed in the Declaration of Independence are indeed abuses worth declaring separation over.

It is plain that Thomas Jefferson liked the writings of John Locke, as do I. I have read that several classic authors have disagreed with Locke on different points. I have not read those works yet, but until then, I feel safe in the company of Jefferson who obviously agrees with points that Locke made in his Second Treaties on Government.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Declaration of Independence taken from Jefferson's autobiography was quite enlightening because I could see the many alterations that Congress made as well as the dedication Jefferson had to his country and countrymen: "we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." I believe Jefferson had wisdom beyond his years (especially in his expressions of slavery) that was shot down because Congress was eager to unite the colonies.

[Daniel Nelms · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 July, 2018
Cannot recommend more Fink’s edition for a read aloud to children. The illustrations act as interpretation of some of the difficult language so they can more easily understand what is being said. Each year we read it aloud to them on July 4th. Happy Independence Day.

4 July, 2021 Update:
Another year, another read aloud of Fink's illustrated edition. Happy 4th. I also learned what consanguinity means. The historical timeline of events at the end of the book concerning the rebellion is helpful too.

[Cameron Reid Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since it is the 4th of July I thought that I would read this and Common Sense since I really have never sat down and read the whole thing. I thought these gentlemen were extremely remarkable. If the war would have been lost they all would have been hung but since we won they are looked at as founding fathers. And amazing read in itself it is a document that is still changing lives.

[Deniz · Rating 1 out of 5]

"...the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare..."

I'm highly disgusted and irritated. This is such a hypocrite text. They, themselves, usurped the rights of the Natives, exploited them, annihilated their language(s), culture and presence, and in the text Jefferson still has an exclusive approach to them. Excuse me, but you cannot seek what you do not give, man.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading through the Declaration and the Constitution every year. I've been keeping up with this tradition for the past several years. I always learn something new from these inspired documents.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice to read this again after many,many years. I marvel at the organization and pursuasive quality of the declaration.

[Sidharth Vardhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since its fourth of July.

[Illiterate · Rating 1 out of 5]

If moral truths are taken as self-evident, there likely will follow sanctimonious racism and imperialism.

[Gega Phridonishvili · Rating 5 out of 5]

1776 წელი დგას. დედამიწის უდიდესი იმპერია, დიდი ბრიტანეთი, ამერიკელ აჯანყებულთა წინააღმდეგ დიდძალ ჯარს აგზავნის. მტერი გზაშია და ამ დროს კონტინენტური კონგრესი იკრიბება.

ამერიკის ინტელექტუალური უმცირესობა, რომელთა ღირებულებებიც ქრისტიანობაზე იდგა, ქმნის დოკუმენტს, რომელიც კაცობრიობის მომავალს განსაზღვრავს.

რა უნდა იყოს იმაზე დიდებული, ვიდრე ადამიანთა მიერ საკუთარი თავისუფლების გააზრება და შემდეგ დეკლარაცია?! რა არის იმაზე დიდებული, ვიდრე ბრძოლა თავისუფლებისათვის, დამოუკიდებლობისათვის და ბედნიერებისაკენ სწრაფვის უფლებისათვის?!

ამიტომ მიყვარს ამერიკა. It’s the land of the free!

God bless America!

[Cassara Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a wonderful book to read about people Declaring Independence by writing a document. The thirteen countries that Britain owned were furious that they had to pay taxes. They wanted to be treated fairly so, they wrote up a document called the Declaration of Independence to declare that Britain can not rule the thirteen countries anymore. In the book there is this famous quote that people in the thirteen colonies really want. The quote is "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." That is all what the thirteen countries want and the British do not give it to them. This caused the revoulutionary war. It all started because of horrible King George and the other British people.

[Margaret Carpenter]

mood