AP History Essay, Research Paper

Declaration of Independence is considered one of the most important

documents in world history because its effects were felt around the world and

not only in its place of origin, the United States. While blacks used context

from the declaration to challenge slavery in the United States, the French used

its ideals to start their own revolution. The Declaration of Independence can be

seen to be one of the few documents that had a profound impact on the world, and

this can be easily seen because of the changes it brought forth. The Declaration

of Independence was a document made by several delegates of the U.S. in 1776. It

was simply made as a document that declared the independence of the 13 British

colonies in America. On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the

Declaration after a few changes were made to it. Even though I think the

Declaration?s main purpose was to declare the colonies independent, there were

many other ideas the declaration addressed. There are many important

abstractions in the Declaration of Independence. These abstractions such as:

rights, freedom, liberty and happiness have become the foundations of American

society and have helped shape the ?American identity?. Power, another

abstraction that reoccurs in all major parts of the Declaration plays equally

important role in shaping ?American identity?. One forgets the abstraction

of power because it appears in relation to other institutions: the King, the

earth, and the military. Even though power is addressed very indirectly in the

declaration its existence is still valued. All of these important abstractions

collectively have led to major changes in the world. A very simple phrase:

?all men are created equal? which is included in the Declaration of

Independence was quickly used by blacks in the U.S. to question slavery. They

wondered if all men were indeed created equal then how could one man own another

man. ?The ideal of equity led Northern states to free slaves within their

borders in the 1780s, 1790s and 1800s?. (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000).

We can give the Declaration credit for starting the movement against slavery. We

all know by now how important it was to get rid of slavery in order to make and

keep the U.S. a democratic and just country. Another important movement that the

Declaration of Independence helped start was the women?s rights movement. The

phrase ?all men are created equal? was slightly changed to ?all men and

woman are created equal?. This amended phrase was the basis of the start of

the woman?s rights movement and women?s suffrage movement, and it was used

throughout the 20th century in order for women to gain equal rights as men.

These rights were such as the ability to own land, the ability to vote, and the

ability to hold public office. ?Other groups have focused of the Declaration

of Independence?s defense of the rights to rebel against an unjust

government?. (Microsoft Encarta encyclopedia 2000). According to historians

the Declaration of Independence influenced many Latin American colonies to rebel

against their mother countries. The Declaration Of Independence was used to

inspire the creation the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in

France. This document was adopted by the National Assembly of France in 1789,

and led to French stability. This is just insight on some of the global impact

the Declaration of Independence, making it worthy to be labeled one of the most

important documents in would history. In conclusion, the Declaration of

Independence can be said to be one of the most important documents in would

history, according to the facts that were presented in this argument. It is

amazing how a document which was intended to effect only a single country, could

effect the whole world. In my opinion the whole world ?matured? as a direct

result of the creation of the Declaration of independence. If you stop to think

about it, where would the world be today, if the Declaration of Independence had

not been created?