What are the most famous and influential words in American history? Most Americans should be able to recognize this excerpt from the Declaration of Independence: “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.” The Americans’ wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776 in order to free themselves from the hands of Great Britain, a nation whose government supported inequality and oppression. The Declaration of Independence also helped establish America’s government. The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson. In the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote in a list of ideals that he believed that the government should have.
2). In writing those words in the Constitution, Jefferson believed that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were part of the human nature that every human being is entitled to. In James McClellan's book named Liberty, Order, and Justice, James Madison-the father and defender of the Constitution-claims the application of the Ten Commandments in the Constitutional Law of the United States as the best way in which the country will be able to sustain itself (p. 224). He saw the Ten Commandments as a set of unalterable laws that
The Declaration of an Impartial Independence The American political system was established on principles of founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, which sought to prevent oppression, tyranny, and despotism. However, it can be argued that there are historical fallacies found in comparing the political theory and the lived reality of American citizens. I will outline how documents like “Freedom’s
Introduction In 1971 American philosopher John Rawls wrote his perhaps most famous piece of work named ‘A Theory of Justice’, which is to this day believed to be one of the most significant pieces of text in the field of political philosophy. In his work, John Rawls introduces the eminent Original Position, in which everyone is impartially situated as equal, and the Principles of Justice, directed at undertaking the competing claims for liberty and fairness in the present-day society. Throughout his work, Rawls endeavours to find a theory which could govern the dissemination of goods and opportunities in society in a most fair and equal method. The shape and content of both political and social philosophy has been significantly revolutionized since the emergence of John Rawls’ ideas. His’ A Theory of Justice’, most significantly, has been a rich source of ideas which continue to impact contemporary discussions about society and politics.
Government Essay The Mayflower compact, and John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government helped establish the principles of freedom, independence, and natural rights that were used to shape the ideas on which our founders created the Declaration of Indepence. The Mayflower compact was important because it was the idea that people had the right to determine the form of government in which they wanted to be governed (Nobles 1215). This concept was important because it was based on biblical principles that they got their rights from God, not from a king, government, or ruling elite (Nobles 1215). John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government was important because it helped create civil societies in which people would give up order to receive protection and security from their government(Locke 1690). This was important because it created a peaceful living and order, but also the people still had the right to overthrow their government if they felt they were not representing the people anymore and abusing power(Locke 1690).
Many Enlightenment philosophers believed that government’s job is to well take care of all of its citizens, not just people with power or who are important for the government. This is where modern democracy came from. In modern days, many of the countries in the world are democracy. The Enlightenment brought political modernization to the West, introducing democratic values and institutions and the creation of modern, liberal democracies. John Locke, one of the most influential philosophers during the Enlightenment, based his governance in social contract theory.
In the first section of Common Sense, Thomas Paine characterizes government as he sees it, which is still an influential viewpoint. His characterization is perhaps best summed up in his own succinct words: “government even in its best state is but a necessary evil.” These words speak measures to his attitude towards the fundamental nature of government—an attitude that shaped a political party in his time that has evolved over time with the core concept relatively intact. For Paine and modern conservatives alike, government is only rendered necessary due to the inadequacies of moral virtue in running a society. To illustrate this concept, Paine supports his idea with a hypothetical island. When a society develops, it will become necessary for a government to compensate for the eventual defect of moral virtue in individuals.
This is the idea that there should be more than one branch of government so that one branch doesn’t get to strong. This also allows decisions to be made easier and a way to enforce the law. In fact the Federalist Papers say, “It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices [checks and balances] should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” (Madison Federalist Papers) Then aligning right next to that statement is the Constitution which says, “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States...The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America...The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish” (Madison Constitution). This is showing how the opinion of one man influenced a whole government.
Brittany Morrison H340- Professor Cappello October 30, 2017 Letter to James Duane Alexander Hamilton September 03, 1780 The American Constitution is a vital segment of the United States’ foundation-- it was the premise of a unique government that did not exist before its time. Although, prior to the Constitution The Founding Fathers of the United States sought to establish a government that would not exploit the American people the way the British government had done so. With considerable fear of corruption, standing armies and lack of representation the Articles of Confederation was enacted. At the outset, the A.O.C had achieved exactly what it was written to do-- supply the governed people with the power over the government. In the near
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