LAD #3: Declaration of Independence



The Declaration of Independence in the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.

The Declaration of Independence is based on core democratic principles that apply to all men. These include the belief that all men are created equal and have the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In addition, the colonists believed that the citizens should have a say in government, so Thomas Jefferson wrote that the government gets power from the consent of the governed. Lastly, when a government becomes destructive or too powerful, the citizens can revolt, like the colonists did against the King of Great Britain.

The colonists justified their pursuit of independence with grievances against the king, namely:

• His refusal to pass laws that help the citizens
• Creating new offices that harm the people
• Keeping standing armies in times of peace without consent
• Quartering troops
• Cutting off colonists' trade with the rest of the world
• Force taxes without consent
• Deny the colonists of trial by jury
• Declaring the colonies out of his protection and declaring war against them
• Invading the coasts and burning towns

The Declaration of Independence finishes with a conclusion in which the colonies claim they should be, and declare themselves to be free and independent. They also remove all loyalties and political connections to Britain, and say they have the power to declare war, make peace, start alliances, and establish trading relationships wherever they see fit.





Alex Rodriguez at the press conference announcing the end of his playing career with the New York Yankees

The colonists' relationship with Britain is similar to the Yankees' tumultuous relationship with Alex Rodriguez. What seemed like a positive, working partnership  in the beginning became filled with distaste. Like the colonies declared independence from Britain, the Yankees "declared independence" from Rodriguez by coming to an agreement with him that resulted in his release from the team.