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Introduction
America was colonized by the British Empire for a long time; therefore, it experienced the challenges that other nations went through before attaining independence. The American Congress assigned Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingstone the role of drafting a document to be presented to the British government to explain the need for this country to be independent. Richard Henry Lee presented a motion to support North Carolina and Virginias resolutions to make American colonies independent (McPherson 1995). This paper compares the draft of the Declaration of Independence and the final Declaration outlining the major changes and what they portray about the American colony, its beliefs, and issues.
The preamble of the draft states that the document was a declaration of the representatives of the United States of America while the final draft declared that it was an undisputed decision of all the 13 colonies (Keene, Cornell and ODonnell 2012). The draft was edited to portray unity and agreement among all states of America. In addition, the first document shows that the decisions made were from representatives from different states while the final copy shows that Americans had decided to become independent. Therefore, the preface of the final document had stronger messages compared to the draft. It showed that Americans had unanimously decided that it was time to make their country independent.
Both documents highlight the need to respect human rights by promoting liberty, protecting life, and pursuing happiness. However, the draft considers these issues as ends while the final copy describes them as rights. Therefore, the last document emphasizes the need to respect human rights by all institutions, but the argument presented in the second one lacks weight. However, both documents highlight the need for governments to respect human rights and freedoms and give people the power to expunge their authorities if they fail to respect the dignity of their citizens (Keene et al., 2012). In addition, the draft explains that human beings deserve respect to ensure they are not subjected to cruelty. This means that they are entitled to rights and freedoms that should not be violated (United States 2013). The draft does not specify what actions people take to alleviate their suffering. Moreover, it does not specify the intention of the document but gives a general impression of the need for change in society to ensure human rights are respected. However, the final copy identifies the need to seek separation from political bonds and equality among nations and individuals (McPherson 1995). This copy is precise and allows the reader to understand that the resolutions passed advocate for Americas separation from the British Empire.
The draft respected and acknowledge the need for religion in governance to ensure people understood the spiritual part of human rights. Moreover, it explained that the fundamental rights of Americans were sacred and undeniable. This means that anybody who violated them was violating God and mans wish for people to live happily. On the other hand, the final copy does not place a lot of emphasis on the fact that human rights must be respected by every person and government. The authors assumed that people understood the need to have a government that does not violate the rights of its citizens (Keene et al., 2012). These differences are evident in modern society, and America has for a long time included Biblical references in its functions. For instance, religious books like the Bible and Quran are used when swearing into office presidents and other prominent public servants in the United States.
It is necessary to explain that the revised version of this document considered the need to make all nations equal as a way of ensuring that all other issues will follow suit.
The draft considered all men equal and independent, and that is why it proposed that Britain refrains from controlling the activities of Americans. This document did not just highlight the importance of equality between nations but also emphasized the need to stop interfering with the affairs of other states. The statement was aimed at showing Britain that America had come of age, and it was time to let it make independent decisions regarding its institutions, systems, and people (McPherson 1995). However, the final draft placed a lot of emphasis on equality and not independence.
These documents present that there should be no hurry to change governments if there are not adequate reasons to warrant the removal of a regime (United States 2013). This means that America did not wish to have new leadership and independence just for the sake of seeking identity. However, various inhumane and disrespectful incidences prompted Americans to seek separation from the British Empire. This belief has become a constitutional provision that advocates for responsible leadership. Political leaders (presidents, governors, senators, and other regional representatives) can be expunged from power if they promote practices that abuse human rights (Keene et al., 2012).
Jeffersons team had perceived the British Empire as an enemy because of the humiliation that America went through during its reign (McPherson 1995). In addition, the draft addressed the British Empire as His Majesty while the final copy considered it to be the King of Great Britain. These differences show the pain that America experienced under British rule, and this may have prompted Jefferson to regard it with less respect (United States 2013). However, the final draft considered the British Empire superior to America and even though it was seeking separation there was the need to respect its master. The Committee of the Whole rejected all critical references to the English people because it wanted to show them that there was no enmity between them. However, this perspective was not supported by the committee that prepared the final draft, and this led to the removal of all disrespectful references to the English people.
Lastly, the British Empire had treated Americans as slaves and wanted to impose leadership on them. In addition, it had used American soldiers to fight wars in other territories and abused the rights of its institutions (United States 2013). Jefferson experienced the pain his countrymen suffered during this time, and that is why he used the word subjects instead of citizens. However, he made some changes and corrected how these words were used after realizing that America was an emerging democratic state. The final draft replaced all words that showed Americans were slaves or considered this country a failed state (Keene et al., 2012). The revised draft had to meet some requirements that respected human rights and international relations. That is why it was necessary to rephrase some statements and change words that portrayed America as a country of slaves. In addition, there was the need to ensure the British Empire understood the grievances of Americans without creating a rift between the need for change and protection of social, political, and economic relations among nations. America was breaking from Monarchy rule, but this did not give its citizens or institutions the power to disrespect its colonial master.
References
Keene, J., Cornell, S. T. and ODonnell, E. T. (2012). Visions of America: A History of the United States. New Jersey: Pearson.
McPherson, J. M. (1995). Holt McDougal Library: What They Fought For 1861-1865. Boston: Holt McDougal.1995.
United States (2013). The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and United States Bill of Rights. New York: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
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