What is “Declaration of Independence”, anyway?

The “Declaration of Independence” is nothing more than a campaign document!

1. “Declaration of Independence” – the document?

The document (The Declaration of Independence – 1776) can be easily divided into three parts as follows:

The crown jewel.
The big slogan in the crown jewel.
The average.

Let me elaborate on each …

1.1 The crown jewel

Below is an 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.

This is the crown jewel of the document. It is eloquent, it is inspirational, and it is aspirational. It is, perhaps, even worldly and perpetual …

1.2 The big slogan in the crown jewel

This big slogan was very powerful and useful to defy the British King at the time. But it is false – then, now, and forever.

1.3 The average

The rest of the document is quite average in writing. It is definitely neither worldly nor perpetual, because it is basically a long list of grievances against the British King, without much significance beyond the 13 colonies.

2. “Declaration of Independence” – the essence?

The crown jewel glorifies the American Revolution, while hiding the real reason behind it: the [rich] colonists simply did not want to pay [more] taxes!

The document was hugely consequential, leading to America’s unquestionable victory in the questionable American Revolution. For more, read: What is the American Revolution, anyway?

3. Discussion

Let’s make a critical difference between the document and the big slogan (i.e., “All men are created equal”), and discuss them, respectively.

3.1 The document

Overall, the Declaration of Independence has served America very well, for which Americans must forever be grateful to its authors and signatories.

However, nothing is perpetual, not even the Declaration of Independence.

Here is what it really is: a campaign (vs. governing) document.

Once a campaign is over, a campaign document like this should be shelved. But it did not happen in this case for two main reasons:

Its principal author Thomas Jefferson was hugely influential for well over 30 years after its publication in 1776.
There has been little governing, but constant campaigning for power, in America.

What, then, is the key difference between a campaign and governing?

The image below answers the question.

3.2 The big slogan

Once again, the big slogan is false – then, now, and forever.

For more, read History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline.

4. Closing

It is time to recognize the fact that the “Declaration of Independence” is just a campaign document, glorifying the American Revolution at the time – Nothing more than that! The big slogan (i.e., “All men are created equal”), however, is perhaps the biggest falsehood in American history, having done more damage to America over the past 200 years than most Americans realize or care to admit. For more, read History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline.

Now, please sit back and enjoy the video below.