FREE ESSAY ON AP HISTORY ESSAY

AP HISTORY ESSAY

AP History Essay
Declaration of Independence is considered one of the most important documents in world
history because its effects were felt around the world and not only in its place of
origin, the United States. While blacks used context from the declaration to challenge
slavery in the United States, the French used its ideals to start their own revolution.
The Declaration of Independence can be seen to be one of the few documents that had a
profound impact on the world, and this can be easily seen because of the changes it
brought forth. 
The Declaration of Independence was a document made by several delegates of the U.S. in
1776. It was simply made as a document that declared the independence of the 13 British
colonies in America. On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration
after a few changes were made to it. Even though I think the Declaration's main purpose
was to declare the colonies independent, there were many other ideas the declaration
addressed.
There are many important abstractions in the Declaration of Independence. These
abstractions such as: rights, freedom, liberty and happiness have become the foundations
of American society and have helped shape the "American identity". Power, another
abstraction that reoccurs in all major parts of the Declaration plays equally important
role in shaping "American identity". One forgets the abstraction of power because it
appears in relation to other institutions: the King, the earth, and the military. Even
though power is addressed very indirectly in the declaration its existence is still
valued. All of these important abstractions collectively have led to major changes in the
world.
A very simple phrase: "all men are created equal" which is included in the Declaration of
Independence was quickly used by blacks in the U.S. to question slavery. They wondered if
all men were indeed created equal then how could one man own another man. "The ideal of
equity led Northern states to free slaves within their borders in the 1780s, 1790s and
1800s". (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000). We can give the Declaration credit for
starting the movement against slavery. We all know by now how important it was to get rid
of slavery in order to make and keep the U.S. a democratic and just country. 
Another important movement that the Declaration of Independence helped start was the
women's rights movement. The phrase "all men are created equal" was slightly changed to
"all men and woman are created equal". This amended phrase was the basis of the start of
the woman's rights movement and women's suffrage movement, and it was used throughout the
20th century in order for women to gain equal rights as men. These rights were such as
the ability to own land, the ability to vote, and the ability to hold public office.
"Other groups have focused of the Declaration of Independence's defense of the rights to
rebel against an unjust government". (Microsoft Encarta encyclopedia 2000). According to
historians the Declaration of Independence influenced many Latin American colonies to
rebel against their mother countries. The Declaration Of Independence was used to inspire
the creation the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in France. This
document was adopted by the National Assembly of France in 1789, and led to French
stability. This is just insight on some of the global impact the Declaration of
Independence, making it worthy to be labeled one of the most important documents in would
history. 
In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence can be said to be one of the most
important documents in would history, according to the facts that were presented in this
argument. It is amazing how a document which was intended to effect only a single
country, could effect the whole world. In my opinion the whole world "matured" as a
direct result of the creation of the Declaration of independence. If you stop to think
about it, where would the world be today, if the Declaration of Independence had not been
created?
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