Declaration Draft Revision Analysis
Sam Davis
The United States of America was not always the independent coalition of powers that it is in current times. At some point, the scattered mix of separate colonies, all under subjugation by Britain, had to come together and decide to break ties with their overlord from across the Atlantic to become one unified nation. Perhaps the most important step in this divergence was the creation of the Declaration of Independence. The impression left by the words of this document would cement in the minds of the world the strength that the colonies would represent as a unified country. The first draft of the Declaration was somewhat successful in conveying the message that the United States would exist separately from
Britain, but the subtle changes evident in the final version conveyed a significantly more powerful message. The revisions between the draft and final versions of the Declaration of
Independence emphasize the United States’ intention for a complete detachment from Britain, as well as the complete unity among each of the thirteen states.
The Declaration of Independence was intended to do exactly what the title suggests: declare the United States and independent nation. However, the first draft was rather ambiguous in explaining this whereas the final was extremely clear. When the draft stated in the first sentence that it was time for the colonies “to advance from that subordination in which they have hitherto remained”, it is not abundantly evident that this means complete separation from Britain. To advance from subordination could be interpreted as a desire for possibly more influence in the British government or just slightly more control over America being given to leaders within the states. Even though it shows that the states want change, it seems more open to negotiation. This is where the revision has its impact. By changing that phase to
“to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another”, Jefferson
The United States of America was not always the independent coalition of powers that it is in current times. At some point, the scattered mix of separate colonies, all under subjugation by Britain, had to come together and decide to break ties with their overlord from across the Atlantic to become one unified nation. Perhaps the most important step in this divergence was the creation of the Declaration of Independence. The impression left by the words of this document would cement in the minds of the world the strength that the colonies would represent as a unified country. The first draft of the Declaration was somewhat successful in conveying the message that the United States would exist separately from
Britain, but the subtle changes evident in the final version conveyed a significantly more powerful message. The revisions between the draft and final versions of the Declaration of
Independence emphasize the United States’ intention for a complete detachment from Britain, as well as the complete unity among each of the thirteen states.
The Declaration of Independence was intended to do exactly what the title suggests: declare the United States and independent nation. However, the first draft was rather ambiguous in explaining this whereas the final was extremely clear. When the draft stated in the first sentence that it was time for the colonies “to advance from that subordination in which they have hitherto remained”, it is not abundantly evident that this means complete separation from Britain. To advance from subordination could be interpreted as a desire for possibly more influence in the British government or just slightly more control over America being given to leaders within the states. Even though it shows that the states want change, it seems more open to negotiation. This is where the revision has its impact. By changing that phase to
“to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another”, Jefferson