...What does Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness Mean to You? The Declaration of Independence is the most important piece of all American historical documents. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness might ring a bell, but for others it’s a whole different story. “Freedom is Intended as a Challenge” by Naomi Wolf mentions in her reading about Thomas Jefferson who was one of the writers of “The Declaration of Independence” had two main ideas which were individually and happiness, the pursuit of happiness. As Wolf researches she comes up with the idea that Jefferson had the idea that we would live a life that was guaranteed, Wolf explains “liberation is not about a historical moment that had happened in the past it is more of a destination of the mind” (636). Life is not all about being born in America and being free, people around us must continue their happiness, and find their own meaning of liberty. Wolf is a piece that takes a deeper look into the current perception of how the Declaration of Independence. Wolf believes us present day Americans have a right sense of what really happened in the late 1700’s. Wolf explains how many American’s now just look at the Declaration of Independence as just a piece of paper, and not taken as serious as it should be. The Declaration of Independence is supposed to be looked at on how free America is, as the Declaration of Independence states, “We hold truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed...
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...motive to independence, the allowance to mass success, and the vouchsafed of contentment. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the rights that have been bestowed upon us; they are the utmost essential rights that have been gifted to us by simply being an American. The works of, “The Declaration of Independence,” drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the self-liberating essay, “Salvation,” penned by Langston Hughes, as-well-as, the continuous resurging classic, “The Great Gatsby,” written by F. Scott Fitzgerald all share a common factor. These analects not only render on how we are entitled to these essential American rights but how we are given the opportunity to practice them freely...
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...limited because we mistakenly misunderstood what the right to be free meant. Thomas Jefferson’s, “The Declaration of Independence,” argues in his 1776 draft that if the government goes against what people want, they have a right to rebel and form a new type of government. As well as, if there is an unbalanced amount of respect, we the people are turned down the right to a full voice and the activation of our rights. With that being said, he expressed American Freedom around what we were willing to risk for a change and what we would allow come between our wants and needs. Naomi Wolf’s, “Freedom is intended as a challenge,” explains The Declaration of Independence in a way that would be more modernized for people that could not grasp what Jefferson was meaning. Wolf also continues to elaborate the challenges Americans personally sacrifice for the sake of freedom. Having said that, the pursuit of happiness mirrors the time period in which we live in. Nowadays you see the laws changing all around us. Currently same-sex marriage is now legal but just a few years ago they weren’t allowed to. Black people and white people are no longer segregated and 23 states have change their drug laws and have made marijuana legal. Everyday seems like the idea of freedom is changing. The pursuit of happiness is a reflection over how it was back then and how it is now. In Jefferson’s writing he uses words like “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”, (Jefferson 625) which implies that people...
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...they tell us what we want to hear; to get our votes. It is very understandable the reasoning behind it but at the same time we start believing all their word. By the time they are elected our new president of these United States, they have the support of everyone they fooled into believing their blind promises. We fall into their guarantee of topics they claimed they were going to address, and problematic issues they stated would change as soon as they were elected into the White House. As soon as they get inaugurated they still have no idea what is in store for them, the promises made to the public are suddenly pushed to the end of their priority list. Maybe they really wanted to fulfill the people’s demands but were soon faced with the reality that they probably won’t be able to do what they set out to do, due to agendas preset before they even thought about running for presidency. We’re faced with the let down of a broken promise. As a citizen you get promised many things, a lot of those promises are legal promises as in the Constitution of the United States and others that were just promised to get a reaction. In The Promise of America a book with excerpts of different promises made to the American people, Thomas Jefferson’s historical “The Declaration of Independence”, was read on July 4th 1776, and was signed by 56 members of congress. In the “Declaration”, Jefferson states our true promises that defy this great nation that we have the rights of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit...
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...members of the thirteen colonies exclaimed and announced their independence, and specifically mentioned three things: the right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness for the people. Consequently, dissolving the political bands with their mother country England and its King. The colonies viewed their actions as creating an independent country; thus, the United States would be born. The governors of the thirteen colonies challenged the King’s power by stating that “all men are created equal”, while also enforcing that everyone has the right to Life to choose how they want to live. As the members of the thirteen colonies sought to establish Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, their views have profoundly affected my own personal experiences and outlook of life....
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...to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which is composed on the Declaration of Independence. A strong statement adopted on July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress had just laid the corner stone of "their" new country named the United States of America. The composers had in mind that all men are created equal and should be able to enjoy the same free and opportunity filled lifestyle. Although, well thought out and detailed in manner, the issue now viewed is what was considered a man at the current time. The introduction of the slave-trade showed a clear divide in the opinion. The thought process at that time has drastically impacted the black community to present. The Declaration of Independence states all individuals are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but does not explain the start dates are different for separate races. Strongly due to slavery and the consequences thereof, which include lack of education and unsupported financial stability have impacted black livelihood for over the past 200 years and also prove that the rights in this document were not meant for all races....
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...reflect upon what being an American means to me, I do so on the heels of preparing for tomorrow evening’s Law Seminar class where we are in the throes of the Con Law – boring as it sounds, studying the Constitution for approximately 15 to 12 hours a week. And with this being said, I will begin my guided journal entry by describing my new found reverence for our founding fathers and for the great resolve I now have to uphold the Constitution and embrace my freedoms – thoughts to which I have not given much consideration before Law Sem and this assignment. Our country’s architects envisioned a nation that protects life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness from the forceful interference by others. This assignment will attempt to describe my passion for being American based on those three protections. Regarding the protection of life, being an American means living a life of freedom where justice, equality, and fairness are paramount in our legal system. As an American, I want to support our government and its interests and want to do my best to remain loyal to our nation’s leaders. However, when I differ with our leaders, I am confident that I, as an American, have a hand in appointing the appropriate leaders by voting and by taking responsibility to be fully informed and aware of the issues that I am either not in agreement or continue to doubt. Being an American gives me liberties that individuals in many nations will never realize or enjoy. These liberties are incredibly...
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...Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness When our forefathers drafted the Declaration of Independence, they were seeking a place where “all men are created equal” with the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” They were the dreamers who saw potential in America. A little further down the road to the 1880s and Americans were still dreaming of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in a world where all men are created equal. We commonly refer to it as “the American Dream.” This phrase was first used in 1931 to describe the attraction that brought immigrants to America. The pursuit of the American Dream is still something that is chased by the masses today. Huck Finn, Jim and Pap were all seeking to achieve that dream, though it had different meanings for each of them. Huck’s pursuit of the American Dream had to do with being able to be free to go where and when he wanted, without seeking permission from anyone. Huck felt if he were free to do as he pleased, then he would be a rich man. His happiness had nothing to do with financial wealth. Huck stated that fact to Judge Thatcher. I don’t want it at all-nor the six thousand, nuther I want you to take it; I want to give it to you-the six thousand and all…Don’t you ask me no questions about it please. You’ll tale it-won’t you?...Please take it..and don’t ask me nothing-then I wont have to tell no lies. (Twain 25). When Huck saw money, he did not equate that with happiness. Instead, he...
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...these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” Meaning that all people should receive the same rights, and be treated as equals. This is so important because everyone deserves the same rights. In document A Diana Pham a Vietnamese refugee, expressed how grateful she was of the equality given to her and her family. She said “America has given our family the chance to become whatever we choose...
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...concepts and phrases in the introduction and preamble. The introduction paragraph sets up what the rest of the document is about. Jefferson states that when it is time for a people to separate from a country, it is necessary for them to “declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” This indicates that the rest of the Declaration will outline and highlight the reasons why the American colonists decided to sever ties with Great Britain. The first half of the preamble–the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence–says that humans have certain rights, and the purpose of a government is to protect these rights. The first key phrase declares, “. . . all men are created equal.” This, however, is contradictory considering the existence of slavery in the colonies and the fact that the author, Thomas Jefferson, owned hundreds of slaves himself. Some argue that those who signed the Declaration thought of “the people” as male property owners, which would not include women or slaves as being equal. However, in the original draft, Jefferson did condemn King George for allowing the slave trade to flourish, but Congress voted against this because they did not want the document rejected by the slave-holding colonists. This leads into the second half of the quote that men are “endowed . . . with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” This quote is derived from John Locke’s Second Treatise Concerning Civil Government, which...
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...towards a level of happiness. This doesn't have to require becoming wealthy, although if that is your dream you have the means to push for that goal. You are allowed to push for what you want to do what your dreams take you. You can become a doctor or a lawyer or a scientist or whatever your career desire is. If you want to start your own business you have that opportunity. The American Dream is about providing opportunity. It is your responsibility to provide that drive to accomplish those dreams. This dream can be ever changing and evolving, what you feel to be true today may not necessary be true tomorrow. I feel that this flexibility in our economy is a large part of what provides us with success and hope for the future. I find that the American Dream is even more so important in today's world. Politically the American dream is defined to be Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Life and Liberty is a given and is provided to us by the Constitution and protected by our government. Pursuit of Happiness is up to each and every one of us individually. You can both sit around and do nothing, or you can fulfill your dreams and achieve this level of happiness. I find that this is the huge difference between our economy and the failings of Communism. Communism while provides a Liberal approach by providing equality, but you have no drive nothing to push for. You are decided what your occupation is and provided no real incentive. Back to what I was saying before...
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...oneself why the Negro is not included in this day that marks the Declaration of Independence. Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is extended to every race, except the Negro. It was a day to mark the victimization of a race of people. In comparison, the founding fathers celebrated a day of gaining political independence from Britain and henceforth able to chart their own course. All free citizens have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for themselves. The Fourth of July was a day to recognize the growth and progress made since gaining independence and to dream...
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...you discover if your students truly understand the concepts but give them practice identifying and internalizing them. I have put together a neat activity that I use whenever I introduce the Core Democratic Values for the first time. Take a look at The Core Democratic Sketchbook Activity and see if it fits your needs. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness Mention the Declaration of Independence to most people and the first thing that usually pops into their minds are these seven words: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Declaration tells us that we have these rights and it is the duty of our government to protect those rights. Life A good definition here would be that as Americans we have the right to live without the fear of injury or being killed by others. We believe everyone has the right to live. Seems simple enough but there are still too many countries around the world where this basic right is not the case. In the United States it is the primary responsibility of the government to protect the lives and safety of its citizens. As we talk to kids we can share the idea that in school and life we have rules to...
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...original principles. The fundamental question that Greene concentrates on is whether the principles of 1776 have any relevance at this moment, if social and political conditions have not changed so drastically as to render the political system that had been developed between 1776 and 1789 entirely out of date or in need of revision. During the Revolutionary period, everything seemed to operate and promote political knowledge (55). The principles of civil liberties became the prevailing sentiments of the whole body of American citizens (55). Gordon S. Wood, Pulitzer prize winner for history in 1992 for his book titled The American Revolution1, called the analysis of the Revolutionary principles and characteristics as the “American science of politics.” Founding Fathers had a distrust in human nature. Human beings were imperfect and shaped by passion, prejudice, vanity, and interest which made it difficult to resist...
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...Government. His argument was that government should be built on a mutual agreement (contract theory) and when consent of the governed is loss, or when the natural rights and liberties are violated, it is the right of the people to rise up and replace the current government. This theory can easily be seen in the Deceleration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Locke’s arguments for...
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