…all men are created equal… —Declaration of Independence, 1776
Context
This quotation is from the second paragraph of Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence. Since 1776, these words have become the creed of equality for people around the world. But originally, Jefferson’s phrase was an assertion of British American colonists’ just claim to equal rights with Britain. During the 1760s and 1770s, the British king and parliament had repeatedly violated these rights.
Listen
View
Engraving of the Declaration of Independence, courtesy the National Archive and Records Administration
The words of Thomas Jefferson ring out loud and clear when he said: “I have sworn a holy war over every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”
To this I add, that you cannot dilute Liberty anymore than you can curb it. As for those who are wont to fight for freedom, remember these words of Thomas Jefferson: ” The tree of liberty must be refreshed from timr to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.
I’m doing a report on the Declaration Of Independence in school and from what I read I learned alot, considering I never knew anything about the Declaration. I’m very pleased with what I read about Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration. Thomas Jefferson was a great person for this country!
The context of those words when they were written meant nothing at the time. Jefferson went home to nearly 200 slaves. The words are great indeed, and they give value to American ideals- but they only exist that way when separated from the author.
Peter, I disagree strongly. The human animal — even one so great as Jefferson — is rarely if ever 100% consistent - especially when it comes to ideals vs. reality. One must also remember the context and nature of the Declaration in 18th century. Jefferson’s intellect and soaring writing skills were an inseparable part of the power of the Declaration and its key, inspirational phrases. (Of course, I do not mean to deny the contributions of writers, thinkers from whom TJ and others read, borrowed ideas.)
I would agree with you whole-heartedly that Jefferson held mastery over the written word, as well as the bravest of intentions in writing the Declaration. The only point I was trying to make is that the words of the Declaration were (and still are) greater than their main author, the man that everyone attributes the Declaration’s presence to, Jefferson.
Whether his inconsistencies were grounded in human nature, or just the eigteenth-century mind, one thing is clear, Jefferson was inherently racist. He was quite explicit in his views (see Notes on the State of Virginia). That being said, I feel the words of the Declaration should be regarded in the context of America’s legacy, not Jefferson’s legacy.