Monday, October 22, 2012

On the Declaration of Independence


What does the Declaration tell us about the issue of whether the US was a single nation or 13 independent nations? How is that related to the issue of Federalism?

The Declaration is introduced proclaiming the natural right of “one people” to assume autonomy by breaking political bonds with another. This is appeal to natural law rather than the characterization of a specific relationship, so it can not indicate to the single or several nature of the colonies in terms of nations and governments. However, the second phrase, “Free and independent states,” is the proper context through which the historian is required to study the nature of the states in terms of governments and nations. There is the continuous notion that the colonies, each independent of the others, are united in cause only, and in this particular instance (seceding from Great Britain and ending their allegiance to King George III) do their interests coincide. There not even the suggestion that the colonies, and later each state,  has agreed to anything other than a general compact that for this specific cause they are united.With respect to federalism, this perspective is of grave importance. A federalist system is a general construction of government in which a confederated unit of autonomous states delegate specific authority to a central governing body to execute certain tasks. Federalism implies a dynamic structure of power because each autonomous state has consented to surrender specific orders of authority and must yield to the central body in that context yet retains its own sovereignty. This semi-sovereign nature becomes the crux of the federalism issue as it pertains to the colonies after the revolutionary war, well into the nineteenth century culminating in the the final answer of Mr. Lincoln’s war between the states.  


If you know for sure that something is absolutely true, what difference does it make what others think of what you do? Please answer in terms of political issues faced by the founders. What does this say about democracy in general? 

The Declaration of Independence was the justification used to validate the separation between Great Britain and the American Colonies. The separatists, through the authorship of Thomas Jefferson, expressed their understanding of natural law, how that pertains to governance and liberty and the way in which the English citizens of the colonies feel their rights have been violated. The phrase, “decent respect to the opinions of mankind,” is used here to convey the rationality through which the drastic measure of secession has been decided upon because the phrase is ended with “requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” As the introductory words of the Declaration, Jefferson is ceding the notion that while the power of the government is drawn from the consent of the governed and in certain instances it is appropriate to dissolve political associations, it must been done in a rational, thoughtful manner that carefully outlines the reasons for which separation is necessary. To address the question of absolute truth:  by endorsing the Declaration, the signers were saying, “we know this for sure, so we’re going to act on it” but, because the position they took was deeply grounded in the study of natural law- founded on reason, they sought to explain how breaking their allegiance to the King was justified. The Declaration does not mention democracy in any context. It does reference heavily the Lockean theory of government and State power resting on the consent of the governed, but it would be a grave error to assume that democracy is the implication of consent of the governed.


Does the Declaration say the democracy is the only legitimate form of government? What does it say is the end or purpose of government vs the means for accomplishing this end?

No. The Declaration states, “That to secure [natural rights], governments... [derive] their just powers from the consent of the governed.” If the scope of government extends beyond its functional role as the guardian of liberty, it is the duty of the people to erect a new institution predicated “on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem the most likely to effect their safety and happiness.” 

No comments:

Post a Comment