How did the finding forefathers write the ideals of repubicanism into the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 1

Contrary to other answers, the IDEALS are indeed expressed in the Declaration (more so than in the Constitution, which is a formal framework for putting them into practice).

If you want the key PLACE in the Declaration -- the document BEGINS with a statement of the basic republican ideal of the rights of the PEOPLE to establish their own form of government, and even to REPLACE a government. . . The document then goes on to catalog the REASONS why the American colonies were justifying in doing so in this case, by listing the King's abuses.

It is important to note that this was not something brand new, but a further development of a British ideal of republicanism In fact, the colonists, largely descendants of 17th century British settlers, reflect 17th century English republicanism, esp. as seen in the "Glorious Revolution".

English republicanism was consistent with rule by a monarch, but ONLY as that monarch was constrained by LAW, and the people or their agents (Parliament, in Britain's case) were seen as having ultimate authority.
compare - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republicanism#England

This supremacy of Parliament (hence of the people) took place gradually in British history, but a KEY time was the 17th century, and especially the "The Glorious Revolution" of 1688-9. Here PARLIAMENT asserted its authority by forcing the abdication of their monarch, and invited William and Mary to take his place.

What's especially interesting and important here is the DOCUMENT-- the "English Bill of Rights" -- in which Parliament formalized and justified these actions. A major part of the document was a listing of abuses by the previous king (the justification). This was precisely the sort of thing the Second Continental Congress was doing -- and they consciously MODELED their Declaration on the form used by the Bill of Rights. Thus, the Declaration's central section is a list of royal abuses laid out as justification for their step -- much like that of Parliament in the Glorious Revolution-- of rejecting the rule of this monarch over them.
-see English Bill of Rights (1689) http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/england.htm

Also, the congressional Declaration did not stand alone. It followed and borrowed from a series of state declarations, perhaps esp. George Mason's for the state of Virginia, written just before Jefferson's draft.
http://odur.let.rug.nl/%7Eusa/D/1776-1800/independence/virdor.htm


Note in all of this that the ideals articulated in the Declaration are not only not brand new with them, they are not inventions of John Locke, as many think (though the specific categories and some of the language draw on his work), but the expression of ideals that had developed over a long period of time, with contributions from many sources. (Indeed, the writings of Locke should also be understood as shaped by these events.) If you are quite serious about the FULL picture of the roots of the patriots' ideals, a classic, if sometimes difficult study of the various sources is Bernard Bailyn's book *The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution*.

Answer 2

I believe you're think of the Constitution, not the Declaration. As for how the ideals of republicanism... Republicanism is just a word that represents something else, the "founding fathers" simply outlined freedom in the best way they could. The constitution is just a skeleton for what makes our government, and the laws are the flesh. The governing action by the Constitution is simple enough that it has managed to effectively rule for centuries, setting it aside from any other document in history. The founding fathers were very wise men with good hearts, and if it weren't for them the country we live in now would probably not exist. If you notice all the most powerful countries, like England for one, followed in our example, and that's the only reason they aren't knee deep in turmoil like some of our other not so wise friends. The only way a government can effectively exist is if it is a democratic power, with all sovereignty lying in it's people. It's unfortunate that there isn't more like the founding fathers left around today.

Answer 3

The ideas of founding and constructing of a republic was not underlined in the Declaration of Independence.The Declaration was just a document that identified the grievance against the King and the rights granted by their creator to dissolve those bonds.The lay out of using a Republic above any other form of government was first started in the Articles of Confederation and then later into the Constitution

Answer 4

They didn't. The Declaration of Independence was essentially a letter to King George III of Great Britain explaining to him why the people of the Colonies felt they had to sever ties with England. Jefferson (writing for friends Ben Franklin and John Adams) stated among the reasons the fact that King George wouldn't allow the colonists to petition his government to settle complaints they had against it. These complaints ranged from taxing and tariffs to the quartering of British soldiers in colonists' homes.
The tone of the Declaration is more philosophical than political and can be said to promote the values of the entire political system. A thoughtful communist might be able to draw some of his own politik out of it.

Answer 5

I don't have a clue who the "finding forefathers" were but I suspect the didn't make much headway on their ideas as we have never heard of them today.

Maybe you should study the Founding Forefathers for your answer. They do have a history to talk about.




g-day!