Thoughts on the Declaration

Thoughts on the Declaration of Independence Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation\'s most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson\'s most enduring monument. Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke …

…and necessity for it have not. Booming fireworks and extravagant floats have since added a new twist on the celebration of our independence. Each July 4th we should step back and realize the struggles and hardships spent to get where we are today. The Declaration of Independence is a document not of legal proportions, but instead to symbolize our strength as a nation where everyone is entitled to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”