Transcript The Declaration of Independence as a Formal Essay

The Declaration of Independence as a
Formal Essay
Go to page 270 of your text book.
• The Declaration of Independence, written
primarily by Thomas Jefferson, has three
distinct sections: Introduction, Body,
Conclusion.
• There are four major movements in the
Declaration, but we can still see the overall
structure of a very formal essay.
The four sections
Structure of the Declaration
• Preamble, or
foreword
• Declaration of
natural rights
• List of grievances
• Conclusion
How to classify the sections.
Preamble: Foreword or part of
Introduction
• This is, in my opinion, the
Introduction. It states the
theme of the document and
gives impetus to its subject
matter. It is interesting,
since it is setting the stage
for what the conclusion will
boldly exclaim.
From the Preamble:
• “When, in the course
of human events, it
becomes necessary
for one people to
dissolve the political
bands which have
connected them
with another…”
The Declaration of
People’s Rights
This section can be
viewed as a
transitional stage
between the
Introduction/
foreword and the
Body/list of
Grievances. The first
line is powerful and it
is often considered
the true beginning of
the essay.
• “We hold these truths
to be self-evident:--that
all men are created
equal; that they are
endowed by their
Creator with certain
inalienable rights; that
among these are life,
liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness.”
The Body
The Body of the Declaration
is a list of grievances against
the Crown. This is the logical
evidence against the Crown.
The Introductory sections have
set the stage for the
grievances. The conclusion
will bring together the ideals
of the opening with the proof
of violations, and reach a
radical summary.
Summary of Grievances
• The King has interfered with Colonial politics in a
variety of ways.
• Illegal and excessive use of military force
• Excessive taxation
• Interference with trade
• Abolition of local laws, courts, and legislatures
• He has waged war against the colony.
• He has forced Americans into British naval service.
• He has paid European mercenaries and frontier Indians
to attack the colonists.
The Body, Continued
• The list of grievances
ends with three
paragraphs that explain
the colonists’ attempts
to find legal and
peaceful, redress.
Finally, in frustration,
the Americans are
ready to declare war.
The Conclusion
• This is one of the most
important paragraphs in
world history. This
conclusion is no mere
summary; there is no mere
repetition here.
• The document has travelled
from a vague statement of
rights to a conclusion of
political separation and
necessary war, through the
evidence of logic and
factual grievances.
Summary
• The Declaration of Independence is an
important historical document written in the
formal essay style. Most importantly, the
Introduction sets forth its theme, the Body
documents the facts that support the theme,
and the Conclusion moves forward into action.
America may love stories, but it was founded
on an essay!