Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson, 1776 — Justifications for Separation from Great Britain
Basic Information
Author: Thomas Jefferson · Year: 1776
Main Topic: List of justifications why U.S. colonists wished to separate from Great Britain. This is a Required Source on the Argument Essay FRQ.
Memory Tricks
"Life, Liberty, Locke" — Jefferson borrowed Locke's natural rights (life, liberty, property) and swapped "property" for "pursuit of happiness."
"1776 = We Quit Britain" — The Declaration is NOT law, it's a breakup letter with a philosophical justification.
"Consent = Contract" — Government needs the consent of the governed or the people have the right to overthrow it.
Bullet Point Summary
Officially records the proclamation that the United States is an independent country from Great Britain.
People have natural rights that a central government should not violate or abuse.
Great Britain has oppressed the rights of colonists while giving them no representation to advocate for themselves.
It is the right and obligation of the people to overthrow their government and replace it when it has been unfair or ineffective.
Important Quotes
"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…"
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government."
Argument Essay Connections
Document (+)
Letter From a Birmingham Jail
Both justify resistance to unjust authority
Court Case (-)
Schenck v. U.S.
Government CAN limit rights during crisis — counter to Declaration's natural rights
Unit 1 (+)
Social Contract
Core theoretical foundation
Unit 3 (+)
Power of Congress to levy taxes
Colonists protested 'taxation without representation'
Unit 5 (+)
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Extends unalienable rights to all citizens
Unit 6 (+)
Congressional & Presidential Elections
Manifestation of 'consent of the governed'
Writing Practice
AP-Style Argument Essay Prompt
Develop an argument that explains whether the principles of the Declaration of Independence are effectively realized in the modern U.S. political system.
- Use the Declaration of Independence as a required source.
- Use a second document or court case to support OR counter-argue your thesis.
- Apply evidence from at least one additional unit concept.
Tip: A strong thesis takes a clear position — don't just describe, argue. Example: "Although the Declaration established the principle of natural rights, the modern U.S. political system has inconsistently applied these principles, as evidenced by…"
Key Takeaways
- Not legally binding — a philosophical/political statement, not law
- Rooted in Locke's social contract and natural rights theory
- Establishes popular sovereignty and the right of revolution
- 27 specific grievances against King George III