The Origin of the Axiom of the Declaration of Independence

Topic of Article

On July 04, 2004, Walter Isaacson - president of the Aspen Institute, wrote an article about the United States foreign policy. In this article, Walter Isaacson recalls three ways to persuade people, the origin of the axiom of the Declaration of Independence, and the failures in foreign policy of U.S government nowadays.

Author's Major Ideas and/or Findings Presented in the Article

Firstly, the author reminds us the way to make the Declaration of Independence. According to him, there are three main ways for founders of Declaration of Independence to persuade others to join with them. The first way is to coerce others with threats. For example, they would have broken away from Britain. British ship would have been harm; U.S would have stopped the trade; and so on if Britain had fought against them. The second way to persuade others is to point out their interests. For example, they could point out to continental European that the best way to fight against England is to make friends with America. And the third way, the way that Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, the main authors of the Declaration of Independence used to persuade people is to appeal to others ideal. They stated that "People are created equal", "and they have certain unalienable rights."

Another main point of this article is that the origin of the axioms in the Declaration of Independence. At first, Jefferson stated "We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable." Franklin then believed that the truths were based on reasons, did not connect to religion. In another axiom, Jefferson stated that "from that equal creation they derive rights inherent and inalienable." John Adams, through Puritan idea stated that "they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights." In the end, the Declaration stated that "to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed." The Declaration of Independence can get the beautiful axioms also because the help of France.

The last main point that Walter Isaacson wants to explain in the article is that the concept of founder in making Declaration of Independence - the allies is no more performed by government nowadays. The article states that the government, the President George Bush, the Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld now do not follow the founder's concept. In addition, the United States now is trying to win a war against terrorism by fear others, not by gaining allies.

Response & Comments:

In this article, Walter Isaacson tries to remind the government about the importance of allies in foreign policy. This method is definitely true. It was proven hundreds year ago when the Declaration of Independence was drafted. There are many