Adopted on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence represents one of the most essential documents of American history. It reveals such evident truths about the founding of the United States. Its second paragraph is gleaming and serves as a beacon for the core political philosophy of the nation, giving a profound statement of the reasons for setting up a government and, on the other hand, underscoring the conditions calling for its dissolution. Consequently, this essay will reason for the government as provided by the Declaration, discussing whether the author agrees with the statement or not as his own, and then argue over the degree to which the current government follows this founding blueprint.
The Purpose of Government According to the Declaration
As assured by this Declaration of Independence, governments are to derive their powers from men to secure inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and property pursuit. These rights are deemed so fundamental to the public’s welfare that protection will shape any government’s character. Inherent, the power of any given government is lent to it by the people it serves (Jones). Hence, it is a social contract premised on the tenet of government legitimacy germinating from its responsiveness and responsibility to the citizenry.
Moreover, the Declaration sets a precedent of the people’s right to change or abolish the government should it be prejudiced to its essential purpose. It is not an invitation to trivial rebellion but a solemn right that is supposed to be exercised under an environment of oppressiveness, where the government is continually putting measures at variance with the well-being and freedoms of the people.
Personal Agreement with Jefferson’s Purpose of Government
Thomas Jefferson’s views about the purpose of government provide many reasons to agree. For instance, a government that fails to succeed in getting its people these fundamental, inalienable rights has failed in its purpose for existence. Accordingly, this precept of governance concludes that any form of ruling body is no more than a tool for the betterment of society, not an end in itself. The consent of the governed is a right and a powerful check against despotism.
Assessment of the Current Government
Therefore, it is hard to measure the US government’s presence against the principles of the Declaration. On the other hand, parallel to the institutionalization of government under the Constitution, some balances and checks protect against the concentration of power (Jones). Of the modern mechanisms of governance, the independently elected governments, independent judiciaries, free presses, and others all serve as forums for the ideals of the Declaration to be given expression.
On the other hand, an assessment that the government is living up to its mandate will always be a function of the political and social lens through which one views the nation’s state. Some people may say that the government still secures the rights and freedoms of an individual based on the democratic process of its functionality and the capability of individuals to exercise free speech and peaceful assembly (Kirk). In this regard, others will criticize the government’s overreach or insufficient protection of economic and social rights in cases of income inequality, systemic racism, or privacy concerns in the digital age.
In summary, through the second paragraph, the Declaration of Independence capably expresses that government should be of the people, for the people, and by the people, in protecting their rights as inalienable. Though philosophically agreed with Jefferson’s vision, the current government’s adherence to such principles is a matter of great debate. The key to the ongoing health of any democracy is the active participation of the citizens in this discourse, constantly re-evaluating and trying to see that their government’s actions align with the ideals that the government exists. Only through such active civic participation can the spirit of the Declaration of Independence continue to thrive.
Works Cited
Jones, Nikole Hannah. “Our democracy’s founding ideals were false when they were written. Black Americans have fought to make them true.” The Best American Magazine Writing 2020. Columbia University Press, 2021. 359-382.
Kirk, John Foster. History of Charles the Bold: Vol. 1. BoD–Books on Demand, 2022.