The reason why the declaration of independence was written was to justify and clarify the Second Continental Congress actions, which was the assumption of an official government. To colonial masters believed they were Englishmen with all the rights Englishmen should have. Nevertheless, following several usurpations, the colonial masters challenged the parliament violations based on English freedom. The declaration of independence combined principle with purpose.
Five delegates were selected in 1776 by the Congress of the United Colonies to create an official written declaration of independence, Thomas Jefferson completed the draft three weeks later. It was sent to the world and King George 111 to read. Think of a public declaration in affirmation of the dictatorship of the English King and a proof of the English Parliament's hypocrisy.
It had three main purposes:
- A list of complaints
- A theory of government
- A declaration of war
Jefferson equally added the principles of Enlightenment thought
- All men were made equal
- All men were born with some unchallengeable rights from God, such as life, freedom, quest for happiness (Jefferson bases this statement solely on the life, freedom, and property theory of John Locke).
- Governments are established among men, not men among government, this is the origin of "Consent of the governed".
- When a government fails to take actions for the people, the governed people reserve the right to either alter the government to suit their very needs or abolish it totally.