Thomas Jefferson and Inalienable Rights

Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and Inalienable Rights

July 4 is one of most prominent days in the history of America.

This day in the year 1776 the Continental Congress has ratified the Declaration of Independence of United States. This historic document declared the common will of Thirteen Colonies of North America to be independent of the rule of Kingdom of Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence, among other, contained justifications of why did the United States renounce the authority of their former overlord, the King of Great Britain whom the signatories addressed as the "Tyrant... unfit to be the Ruler of a free People." (In Congress, July 4, 1776: The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America, 2006).

In expressing their will the signatories were guided by what they defined as unalienable rights, specifically the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. The unalienable or inalienable rights are those human rights which are unconditional and absolute. They are neither given by the governor, nor transferable to others, nor can they be renounced of. The inalienable rights have a ring of natural, though the last are not to be inalienable rights by definition. One of opposing evidences to support the criticism of unalienable rights states, that any rights take their origins from the tradition or the actions of government, while both are the creation of human and neither can embody anything inalienable. (Inalienable rights, 2006). The other argument that the inalienable rights critics proposed claimed that by defining the unalienable human rights the forefathers, standing behind the Declaration, have drawn a line which justified their act of abdicating from the British. The phrase "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights..." (In Congress, July 4, 1776: The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America, 2006), which underlain the Declaration, was later argued by the philosophers to be groundless. (Inalienable rights, 2006). But the arguments of the Declaration's critics could never bring palpable results. Since the adoption of the declaration the inalienable rights remain the ground of American society having great influence on the values and key political vectors which this day United States are guided by. The Declaration and the historical setting which framed its adoption are the ground of United States values and history.

The text of the declaration was prepared by Thomas Jefferson

one of most prominent and active people of his times. By the end of his life Thomas Jefferson wished to be remembered as the author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia. These great deeds, however, do not exhaust the full range of his abilities and achievements. In his fruitful political career he served as the governor of Virginia, the United States ambassador to France, the secretary of state (under the presidency of George Washington), the vice-president (under John Adams) and between 1801 and 1809 he was the president of United States. (Thomas Jefferson, 2006).

Jefferson's political contributions are supplemented with his bright professional and human qualities

He was known lawyer, inventor, philosopher, author, architect and even farmer. He viewed the United States as mainly agricultural nation. He held America for the unique state with great potential to be realized. Thomas Jefferson truly believed in the equality of people. One of the results of such his commitment was the abolishment of primogeniture in Virginia. (Thomas Jefferson, 2006).

Being brilliant diplomat Jefferson strived to restrain United States from open confrontation with European Powers, like Britain, Spain and France. On the other hand he tried to bring peace with Indians of the west and the south of America. The head of Democratic-Republicans Jefferson were pro-French in his views. The adoption of the Alien and Sedition Acts, which discriminated the rights of immigrants and endangered relations with France, has angered the Jefferson's Republicans, who chose Jefferson as their candidate for president at coming elections, which he eventually won. Being the president Jefferson used Napoleon's military situation to acquire the vast territories of Louisiana from French. Having organized the purchase of 800.000 square miles of territory Jefferson organized the largest-ever addition of territory to the United States. (Badertscher, Eric, 2005).

Being tired of politics Jefferson retired, but did not stop his social activity. He donated his own library to restore the Library of Congress burned in 1812. He was the founder of the University of Virginia and became its first rector. He died on July 4, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of the adoption of Declaration of Independence. (Badertscher, Eric, 2005).

The philosopher, the prominent political figure and brilliant personality Thomas Jefferson was one of those Americans who shaped the first days of United States. His contributions into the history of America cannot be overestimated. Most of all the descendants remember him as the President and father of the Declaration of Independence, the one who shaped unalienable rights, as the basis of our freedom.

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