Tag Archives: Declaration of Independence

Presidents: “the Jeffersonian utopia”

From Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson: The vision he projected in the natural rights section of the Declaration, then, represented yet another formulation of the Jeffersonian imagination. The specific form of the … Continue reading

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Declaration – “Perpetual itching without benefit of scratching to the enemies of America.”

From Benson Bobrick’s Angel in the Whirlwind: The Triumph of the American Revolution: On the morning of July 4, Jefferson rose before dawn, and at six a.m. calmly noted that the temperature was 68 degrees Farenheit. The wind was southeast … Continue reading

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Declaration – “within the Jeffersonian utopia such choices do not need to be made”

More from Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Again, here is the text of the Declaration to use for reference. The vision he projected in the natural rights section of the Declaration, then, … Continue reading

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Declaration – “it does not explain Jefferson’s much-debated deletion of ‘property’ “

More from Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Again, here is the text of the Declaration to use for reference. The most famous section of the Declaration, which has become the most quoted … Continue reading

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Declaration – “An elegant, if decidedly one-sided, version of recent Anglo-American history”

From Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Again, here is the text of the Declaration to use for reference. (You know. If you’re a big huge geek like me, then you love to … Continue reading

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Declaration – “On July 4 the Congress approved its revised version”

From Joseph Ellis’ book on Thomas Jefferson: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in a matter of a few days — Adams later remembered it took him only “a day or two” — … Continue reading

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The angel

JOHN PAGE TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, July 20, 1776 – on the signing of the Declaration of Independence: God preserve the United States. We know the Race is not to the Swift nor the Battle to the Strong. Do you not … Continue reading

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Declaration – “Jefferson guards the American Creed at this inspirational level”

Excerpt from Joseph Ellis’ marvelous Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation: Before editorial changes were made by the Continental Congress, Jefferson’s early draft made it even clearer that his intention was to express a spiritual vision: ‘ We hold these truths … Continue reading

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Declaration – “it was Franklin, or Jefferson himself, who made the small but inspired change in the second paragraph.”

Excerpt from David McCullough’s John Adams: [Jefferson] worked rapidly [on writing the Declaration of Independence] and, to judge by surviving drafts, with a sure command of his material. He had none of his books with him, nor needed any, he … Continue reading

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Declaration – “It is hard to think of any way in which the first two paragraphs can be improved”

From Paul Johnson’s superb book A History of the American People (if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it – the excerpt below should show you why):- Oh, and this is a great analysis of the Declaration, which I … Continue reading

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