Synopses & Reviews
It is the most revolutionary political statement in American history. The Declaration of Independence was more than an announcement that thirteen colonies intended to "dissolve the political bands" that bound them to their former rulers; it proclaimed a new and inspiring vision of the principles and purposes of government. But is the Declaration a "bridge between the Bible and the Constitution," as some claim? Do human beings actually have "unalienable rights"? How could slaveowners honestly claim to believe that "all men are created equal"?
In America Declares Independence, one of the nations most distinguished and celebrated attorneys tackles these and other disturbing questions head on. Noting that portions of the Declaration are frequently "wrenched out of context by partisan pleaders to promote parochial causes," Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz explores the documents history, theology, and political theory in search of its true and enduring meaning. No stranger to controversy, Dershowitz also assails some of the Declarations underlying assumptions and questions the conclusions that these assumptions produced.
Drawing on the personal letters and published writings of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and others, Dershowitz demonstrates that the men who wrote and revised the Declaration had no intention of establishing a Christian nation. He reveals that Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration, "rejected all the central tenets of orthodox Christianity" and closely resembled what todays Religious Right would call a "secular humanist."
In what becomes, in essence, an argument with Jefferson, Dershowitz examines the use of "natural law" to support the colonists right to secede from Great Britain. He distinguishes this concept from Divine Revelation, which was anathema to Jefferson, and he contends that the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" claimed under this natural law are importantnot because they are unalienable, but because they are not.
In his examinations of the contradictions inherent in the Declaration regarding equality and slavery, Dershowitz points out Jeffersons personal contradictions on the issue. His complex set of conflicting ideas and beliefs is seen as a microcosm of the conflicts over slavery that existed at the time and would eventually lead to the Civil War.
Stimulating, combative, and relentlessly challenging, this brilliant and pugnacious review of "Americas birth certificate" is sure to provoke indignant responses from many quarters. Its irreverence may shock you, its revelations may surprise you, but its keen insights into Americas most fundamental principles and what they mean today will fill you with a new and deeper appreciation of the power of our founding document and how it changed the world.
Review
* These are dire times for the Declaration of Independence, Dershowitz believes. The religious right has hijacked the document for its own wily purposes, holding that phrases such as ""Nature's God,"" ""Creator"" and ""Divine Providence"" are proof that the Founding Fathers intended America to be an explicitly Christian nation. Not so, cries the noted Harvard Law School professor and prolific author (Supreme Injustice, etc.). To prove his case, Dershowitz focuses mainly on Thomas Jefferson, showing that the Declaration's principal author though most of the Bible was superstitious drivel: he did not believe in miracles, the devil or anything in the Gospels except that certain words were spoken by Jesus. Rather, Jefferson believed in a deistic God, who set the world in motion and then went on vacation. Jefferson didn't think religion should have anything to do with politics. Thus, Dershowitz says, when Jefferson used the phrases ""nature's God"" and ""Divine Providence,"" his contemporaries - most of whom were also deists - understood and approved of his intent. This argument is fine (if familiar) up to a point. But then Dershowitz proves himself nearly as guilty as his foes of ""hijacking"" the Declaration for his own political goals, attaching enemies like Pat Robertson, Alan Keyes and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Dershowitz also toys with some impossibly speculative ideas, such as that Jefferson would have believed in evolution. There have been many fine books written about Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence; readers can find some of them listed in the endnotes to this threadbare addition to Wiley's Turning Points series. Still, the author being a ubiquitous media presence, the book will garner attention and sales. Agent, Helen Rees. (Apr.) (
Publishers Weekly, March 3, 2003)
""...this book stands as a testament to the diversity of opinion that can exisst under one flag"". (Bookpage, July 2003)
Review
These are dire times for the Declaration of Independence, Dershowitz believes. The religious right has hijacked the document for its own wily purposes, holding that phrases such as "Nature's God," "Creator" and "Divine Providence" are proof that the Founding Fathers intended America to be an explicitly Christian nation. Not so, cries the noted Harvard Law School professor and prolific author (Supreme Injustice, etc.). To prove his case, Dershowitz focuses mainly on Thomas Jefferson, showing that the Declaration's principal author though most of the Bible was superstitious drivel: he did not believe in miracles, the devil or anything in the Gospels except that certain words were spoken by Jesus. Rather, Jefferson believed in a deistic God, who set the world in motion and then went on vacation. Jefferson didn't think religion should have anything to do with politics. Thus, Dershowitz says, when Jefferson used the phrases "nature's God" and "Divine Providence," his contemporaries - most of whom were also deists - understood and approved of his intent. This argument is fine (if familiar) up to a point. But then Dershowitz proves himself nearly as guilty as his foes of "hijacking" the Declaration for his own political goals, attaching enemies like Pat Robertson, Alan Keyes and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Dershowitz also toys with some impossibly speculative ideas, such as that Jefferson would have believed in evolution. There have been many fine books written about Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence; readers can find some of them listed in the endnotes to this threadbare addition to Wiley's Turning Points series. Still, the author being a ubiquitous media presence, the book will garner attention and sales. Agent, Helen Rees. (Apr.) (
Publishers Weekly, March 3, 2003)
"...this book stands as a testament to the diversity of opinion that can exisst under one flag". (Bookpage, July 2003)
Synopsis
The Declaration of Independence as you've never seen it before
Some of us cherish it with near-scriptural reverence. Others simply take it for granted. In this contentious new look at the Declaration of Independence, however, celebrated attorney Alan Dershowitz takes ""America's birth certificate"" and its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, to task.
Dershowitz searches for the sources, history, and underlying reasoning that produced the Declaration and its particular language, from its reference to the ""Laws of Nature and Nature's God"" through the long list of complaints against the abuses of King George III. He points out contradictions within the document, notes how the meanings of Jefferson's words have changed over the centuries, and asks many disturbing questions, including:
* Where do rights come from?
* Do we have ""unalienable rights""?
* Do rights to ""life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"" have any meaning?
* How could slaveowners claim to believe that ""all men are created equal""?
* Is the God of the Declaration the God of the Bible?
* Does the Declaration establish a Christian State?
* Are there ""Laws of Nature and of Nature's God""?
Challenging, upsetting, and controversial, this brilliant polemic may anger you, delight you, or force you to reexamine your opinions. One thing's for sure: after reading America Declares Independence, you'll never take the Declaration of Independence for granted again.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-189) and index.
Synopsis
The Declaration of Independence as youve never seen it before
Some of us cherish it with near-scriptural reverence.Others simply take it for granted.In this contentious new look at the Declaration of Independence, however, celebrated attorney Alan Dershowitz takes "Americas birth certificate" and its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, to task.
Dershowitz searches for the sources, history, and underlying reasoning that produced the Declaration and its particular language, from its reference to the "Laws of Nature and Natures God" through the long list of complaints against the abuses of King George III.He points out contradictions within the document, notes how the meanings of Jeffersons words have changed over the centuries, and asks many disturbing questions, including:
- Where do rights come from?
- Do we have "unalienable rights"?
- Do rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" have any meaning?
- How could slaveowners claim to believe that "all men are created equal"?
- Is the God of the Declaration the God of the Bible?
- Does the Declaration establish a Christian State?
- Are there "Laws of Nature and of Natures God"?
Challenging, upsetting, and controversial, this brilliant polemic may anger you, delight you, or force you to reexamine your opinions.One things for sure: after reading America Declares Independence, youll never take the Declaration of Independence for granted again.
Synopsis
The Declaration of Independence as you've never seen it before
Some of us cherish it with near-scriptural reverence. Others simply take it for granted. In this contentious new look at the Declaration of Independence, however, celebrated attorney Alan Dershowitz takes "America's birth certificate" and its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, to task.
Dershowitz searches for the sources, history, and underlying reasoning that produced the Declaration and its particular language, from its reference to the "Laws of Nature and Nature's God" through the long list of complaints against the abuses of King George III. He points out contradictions within the document, notes how the meanings of Jefferson's words have changed over the centuries, and asks many disturbing questions, including:
* Where do rights come from?
* Do we have "unalienable rights"?
* Do rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" have any meaning?
* How could slaveowners claim to believe that "all men are created equal"?
* Is the God of the Declaration the God of the Bible?
* Does the Declaration establish a Christian State?
* Are there "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God"?
Challenging, upsetting, and controversial, this brilliant polemic may anger you, delight you, or force you to reexamine your opinions. One thing's for sure: after reading America Declares Independence, you'll never take the Declaration of Independence for granted again.
About the Author
Alan Dershowitz (Boston, MA), a professor at Harvard Law School, is considered one of the countrys foremost appellate lawyers. He has represented Claus von Bulow, Michael Milken, Senator Alan Cranston, Leona Helmsley, Mike Tyson, Jim Bakker, Patricia Hearst, and many others. Dershowitz has written numerous successful books, including The New York Times #1 bestseller Chutzpah; he is a syndicated newspaper columnist; and he has written for dozens of distinguished periodicals, including The New York Times Book Review, The Atlantic, the Yale Law Journal, and the Harvard Law Review.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Introduction.
Chapter 1. Who is the God of the Declaration?
Chapter 2. What Are "The Laws of Nature and Nature's God"?
Chapter 3. How Can Jefferson's Views of Equality and Slavery Be Reconciled?
Conclusion.
Appendix: The Declaration of Independence.
Notes.
Index.