Our Lives, Our Fortunes, and Our Sacred Honor
Essential Question: In a land of immigrants, what IS an American?
Guiding Thought: In what ways was the Declaration of Independence a reflection of the burgeoning American identity?
Guiding Thought: In what ways was the Declaration of Independence a reflection of the burgeoning American identity?
In 1774 American independence was hardly inevitable—indeed, most Americans found it neither desirable nor likely. When delegates from the thirteen colonies gathered in September 1774, they were, in the words of John Adams, “a gathering of strangers.” With their differing interests and cultural perspectives, perhaps the only thing that bound them together was their common identity as subjects of the British Crown. But as they confronted the array of political, diplomatic, and military challenges facing them during the twenty-two months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, they gradually shed both their provincial and their British identities and became leaders of an American cause.
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A common twentieth-century criticism of the founding is that it enshrines the principle of self-interest at the heart of the regime. The Declaration speaks of rights, we are told, but it does not seem to have much to say about duties. If rights come first, and if the first right is the right to life, it seems that our obligations to others are contingent on our rights. In other words, what seems to come first in the Declaration is selfishness, looking out for one's own life, liberty, and happiness.
Contrary to this view, the Founders emphatically placed their honor and duty ahead of their private rights. The Declaration says, in its second paragraph, that when a people is subjected to a long train of abuses aiming at absolute despotism, "it is their right, it is their duty," to change the government. This duty is higher than one's own personal survival or selfish interest. It may in fact require the sacrifice of one's own life. That is why the Declaration concludes with these noble words: "We pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." |
The American Experience:
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Crucible and Red Scare Reading (PDF) |
Extension Activities
These are videos, websites, and activities that I believe are helpful in understanding and thinking critically about the content, or helpful in preparing for exams. Extension activities are voluntary, but recommended. |
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