Introduction
The history of the United States has been the result of multiple turning points that have shaped the country into what it is today. The US dominates the world in many regards and can be attributed to major norms and values followed across the globe, including liberalization, capitalism, and democracy. However, it can be held that the most important turning point in the country’s history is the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July, 1776. The focus of this essay is on illustrating why the Declaration of Independence is a turning point and outlining the causes and events leading to it. The essay presents an analysis of how the Declaration of Independence changed the course of US history and its impact on today’s society. The Declaration of Independence is the most important turning point in American history since it united the colonies during the Revolutionary War and formed the most powerful nation in the world.
The Declaration of Independence as a Turning Point
The Declaration of Independence is considered a major turning point because it changed the US from a colony to an independent state. The text drafted by Thomas Jefferson remains to be one of the most important statements in the history of the country. The most quoted words are “all men are created equal,” which have been interpreted to mean that the American colonists, as a people, deserved the same rights to self-governance as other nations (De Witte, 2020). The declaration stated that the Creator has endowed unalienable rights to all individuals (Jefferson, 1776). The declaration may have been supported by several Federalist Papers, which comprise essays written by prominent figures calling for ratification of the US Constitution (Hamilton et al., 1788). The declaration and the following documentation, including the Federalist Papers, the US Constitution, and the Bill of rights marked an era in which the US became recognized as an independent nation and no longer as a British colony. Additionally, the declaration came during the American war of independence.
The declaration formed the basis on which the US was to be established as a constitutional liberal democracy, values that have been held until today. An argument can also be held that that declaration voiced the terms of the British surrender during the war and proclaimed the major goal of those fighting the war. The British Monarch had declared that the American colonists were engaged in an open rebellion and made several moves to counter the rebellion. The main idea of the declaration was to state the position that the American colonists held and their resolve to become an independent and free state. The ratification of this declaration gave the US its independence, which means that it marked the point when the US became a nation.
Causes and Events
Even though the Declaration of Independence proclaimed the formation of a constitutional liberal state, the events leading to it may have had greater contributions towards changing the status of the US from a colony to an independent state. The major cause of the declaration is the search for freedom from the British Monarch. The American colonists were bound by the laws and rules of their colonial master, Britain. As with all colonies of the European countries, independence had to be fought for through organized rebellion that compelled the masters to grand independence and self-rule. As mentioned earlier, the Declaration of Independence came during the Revolutionary War, which started in April 1775 (King & Case, 2020). There were several turning points during the war, most of which went in favor of the American colonists. Regardless of the course, the war took, it can be argued that it laid the foundation for the Declaration of Independence after a decade of British oppression.
Before the Revolutionary War, the Americas were colonies of several European countries. The Northern States were British colonies and were the ones majorly involved in the rebellion. Thirteen Northern states won and formed the United States. Through colonization, America was ruled by Great Britain. For decades, the relationship between the two establishments was robust and peaceful where the British parliament facilitated the ruling of the colonies. The colonies operated in what could be described as a laissez-faire manner, which allowed them to flourish. Financially. Taxation was also part of the agreement, which would also be the major cause of the war. After amassing great debts during the French and Indian War, some of the financial burdens were passed to the colonies. The colonists and the British governors clashed between 1773 and 1775 due to differences in trade and taxation, which eventually triggered the Revolutionary war (Overview of the American Revolutionary War: Forging a nation, n.d.). Therefore, the search for freedom was the major cause for the Declaration of Independence, where the conflicts and revolutions shortly before the declaration were the major events leading to the declaration.
Impact of the Turning Point
The impacts of the Declaration of Independence on modern society have been profound. The course of history of the United States changed where the country took a turn from being a colony to becoming a sovereign nation. From sovereignty, the country also attracted other states to form a federation built on freedom and human rights principles. According to Edel (2019), the declaration has become a beacon to the world, which is manifested through its proclamation of the nature of human beings and the inalienable rights. Today, people across nations subscribe to the same views on human rights, and modern philosophies are governed by people’s perceptions of what constitutes the concept of a human being. The immediate aftermath of the declaration was that the different colonies stopped trying to negotiate with Britain individually and united for a unified course. As such, the declaration became a form of mission statement for what was to become the United States. Additionally, the declaration shaped the direction the new country would take and the place it would occupy in the internal order. The declaration did not seek to alienate America from the world. Rather, it sought to become a separate and equal member of the powers of the globe.
Besides the declaration of equal rights, modern society comprises a world order where the US is a global leader. The declaration made it clear that this is where the country sought to be. Since becoming an independent state, the US has played a major role in how the modern world operates. Such events as the World Wars and the Cold War reflect on the principles in the declaration of a free and liberal world. The spread of democracy can also be attributed to the firm beliefs of the philosophy as enshrined in the Declaration.
Conclusion
The Declaration of Independence is arguably the most important turning point in the history of the US. The rationale is that the declaration brought together the various British colonies to push for independence as a united front, which laid the foundation of the country. The declaration also proclaimed equality, which has remained the core constitutional and political principle guiding the Americans and the rest of the world. Lastly, the declaration envisioned a powerful America, which is manifested by the current international order.
References
De Witte, M. (2020). When Thomas Jefferson penned ‘all men are created equal,’ he did not mean individual equality, says Stanford scholar. Stanford.
Edel, C. (2019). How the Declaration of Independence became a beacon to the world. The Washington Post.
Hamilton, A., Jay, J., & Madison, J. (1788). The Federalist. The Independent Journal.
Jefferson, T. (1776). United States Declaration of Independence. Library of Congress.
King, D., & Case, C. (2020). A brief history of American colonies’ taxation before the Revolutionary War. Journal of Business and Accounting, 13(1), 154-175.
Overview of the American Revolutionary War: Forging a nation. (n.d.).