Why Is The Declaration of Independence Considered A Revolutionary Document?
There are many reasons, why most historians all over the world consider the Declaration of Independence a revolutionary document.
Here are the three main reasons below:
1. First of all, the Declaration of Independence was a revolutionary document because through this document the 13 North American colonies declared independence from their mother country, Great Britain, and gave birth to a completely new nation, the United States of America.
2. Secondly, the document established a strong foundation of Democratic principles in world politics. The piece of paper represented the will of the common American people.
3. Thirdly, the document made common people realize the truth that the king (or government) of a nation is not the representative of God; but he is the representative of his country’s people, and therefore, he should always be respectful towards their natural rights.
1. Through This Document The 13 North American Colonies Declared Independence From Their Mother Country
Through the Declaration of Independence, the colonists of the 13 British North American colonies declared independence from the Empire of Great Britain, even though, it was their mother country.
After that, they formed a new nation. They named it the United States of America.
2. It Established A Strong Foundation For Democratic System In World Politics
This document established a strong foundation for the Democratic system in world politics.
The Democratic system was born thousands of years ago, but people were still not that conscious to protect their Democratic rights.
They still believed that the king of a nation is the representative of God and they should follow him without any question.
It was for the first time in the world that happened something when common people came further for fighting on such a large scale to protect their natural rights.
After the United States’ independence (13 colonies), this became a heroic story to inspire millions of people around the globe to fight for achieving and protecting their Democratic rights.
3. It Established The Truth That The People of A Country Are The Actual Source of Its Power
For many centuries, people throughout the world believed that the king of a nation is the representative of God and so, whatever the king orders, people should follow him without any question.
Taking advantage of this irrational faith, most of the rulers often soaked and implemented outrages on common people.
For the first time, this document has widely propagated the truth that in a country, the government or king is not the actual source of its power.
But a nation’s actual power comes from its people.
Common people give this power to their king or government to protect their natural rights. As the Declaration described, those natural rights are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
After the success of the American Revolution, this philosophy spread all over Europe and caused the fall of monarchies in many large nations.
For example, the French Revolution ended the rule of King Louis XVI and established Democracy for some time.
So, these three points are the main reasons why many historians consider the Declaration of Independence a revolutionary document.
