Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) A prominent example of Christianity’s influence on U.S. politics is the Declaration of Independence. This document was meant to justify Colonial rebellion against the king of England. As such, it makes reference to ideas such as objective truth, a “Creator,” human equality, intrinsic value, and personal responsibility. He described the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as "these fragile objects which bear so great a weight of meaning to our people." The story of the Declaration of Independence as a document can only be a part of the larger history, a history still unfolding, a "weight of meaning" constantly, challenged, strengthened, and redefined. Indeed, an overwhelming majority of those who signed the Declaration of Independence counted themselves as religious men. It may come as a surprise to learn that nowhere in the Constitution do the words separation of church and state appear. With words like God, Lord, and Creator found in the Declaration of Independence, it is easy to assume that the founders of the United States were Christians. Declaring Independence On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence. Two days later, it ratified the text of the Declaration. John Dunlap, official printer to Congress, worked through the night to set the Declaration in type and print approximately 200 copies. 13a. The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that This formal declaration of independence ends with important words. The words tell us what the signers of the Declaration of Independence were willing to give up for freedom: “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Signatures There are 56 signatures on the Declaration of Independence. Did you know: The Declaration of Independence is a deeply religious document? By Jerry Newcombe, CP Op-Ed Contributor Thursday, July 03, 2025 iStock/FamVeld Tomorrow, another Fourth of July will be upon us. Why do we celebrate on July 4th? Of course, it’s America’s birthday, dating back to 1776. In 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which asserted the colonies’ right to govern themselves and severed political ties with Great Britain. Test your knowledge of this key document in American history through these seven questions. Locke was a tremendously important political philosopher during the Enlightenment. Many of his ideas and principles were studied and adopted by the founders of America and are evident in documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Declaration of Independence, 1776 By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. The Declaration summarized the colonists’ motivations for seeking independence. Ideas in the Declaration of Independence that reflect the Christian idea of man and government, and Biblical principles include: “people to dissolve” — Power flows from the people (the people under God, see next point). Nearly every printed or manuscript edition of the Declaration of Independence has slight differences in punctuation, capitalization, and even wording. To find out more about the diverse textual tradition of the Declaration, check out our Which Version is This, and Why Does it Matter? resource. The Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America in the original printing, is the founding document of the United States. On July 4, 1776, it was adopted unanimously by the Second Continental Congress, who convened at Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in the colonial capital of Philadelphia. These delegates As an example, the eighteenth-century Declaration of Independence rejected the divine right of kings and instead claimed “all men are created equal,” rooting its claim of mankind’s equality in God’s own handiwork. The declaration says nothing that we would regard as specifically Christian (such as an affirmation of Jesus as Lord), but it is deeply dependent upon belief in a created order. Here’s a verse-by-verse summary of Romans 13:1-7: The passage starts with a clear-cut command to submit to “the governing authorities” (v1a). Immediately following the command is the reason for it: namely, authorities are God-ordained (v1b). Therefore, resisting earthly authority is the same as resisting God (v2). Given below are the main paragraphs from the Declaration of Independence followed by Biblical scripture which coincide with the emphasized ideas in the document. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like How many colonies approved the Declaration of Independence?, Why do you think the authors made the point that the king had conducted himself as a tyrant?, Were the actions of King George III those of a despot or was he merely trying to protect the crown's interest? and more.
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