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Declaration of Independence | Primary Source Essentials

How does the Declaration of Independence support the principles of individual liberty and self-government? In this rapid-fire episode of BRI’s Primary Source Essentials and Declaration of Independence summary, learn the arguments made by the American colonists as they sought to free themselves of British control.

0:00 welcome to primary source Essentials in this episode we will briefly discuss the Declaration of Independence the central question is how does the Declaration of Independence support the principles of individual liberty and self-government let’s find out the declaration’s answer to this question

0:20 [Music] the 1760s and 1770s American colonists oppose British taxes and tyranny with the argument no taxation without representation eventually the colonists went to war at Lexington and Concord to protect their liberties

0:40 by July 4th 1776 the Second Continental Congress declared American independence from Great Britain and adopted the Declaration of Independence the Declaration asserts the principles that all humans are created equal they have natural rights including life liberty and the pursuit of happiness that cannot

1:02 justly be taken away the people form government through a compact based upon their consent the purpose of the government is to protect their natural rights if a government violates those rights the people have a right to overthrow it after a long train of abuses and

1:22 creating more just government that will protect their rights the Declaration lists grievances against the king for acts of tyranny and oppression causing them to assert their independence the Declaration of Independence provided an understanding of individual rights and established the purposes of government according to

1:43 human nature so the answer in the Declaration of Independence is that it provided the basis for self-government rooted in the principles of natural rights equality liberty and justice thanks for watching and check out the other videos in primary source

2:03 Essentials [Music]

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Essay: Rights and the Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence, based in part on the philosophy of John Locke, was an "expression of the American mind". Going back to Magna Carta, British nobles had petitioned the monarch demanding limits to his power. But Locke argues and the Declaration of Independence asserts that legitimate government is based on the consent of the governed. Locke's ideas were too democratic, too revolutionary for his time in England, but a century later they had a firm hold in the American colonies, and in 1776 they were the basis of the original and most fundamental American statement of rights, the Declaration of Independence.