Phenomenon of the Declaration of independence - Assignment Example

Declaring independence meant a change to self-governance by Americans. In addition to the change that the document would initiate, the idea of secession was itself radical to imply the state in the final document. The political significance of the declaration’s provisions also identifies its radical scope. In addition to calling for independence, the declaration established people’s unalienable rights and the power of the people to overthrow the government, a political authority that the aristocratic British rule did not recognize (The Charter of Freedom, 1).

Jefferson and his colleagues wrote this document to mark a formal rebellion against British rule and to establish self-governance for the states. Taking the document literally, it would mean that some human rights are supreme and above the authority of anybody over people and people should demand for such rights. The literal context of the declaration also means that people have the authority to control their rulers and can change leaders that do not honor people’s rights. The Capital Hill march (Ernst, 1) and the planned strike by fast food workers in the United States in December are examples that demonstrate the literal meaning of the declaration (Gabbatt, 1). The protests sought to establish rights that people thought they were entitled to but authorities refused to grant them to the people. The Capital Hill March involved the display of people’s demanded rights on placards.