Synopses & Reviews
What did the Declaration declare? An enduring mythology has grown up around the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Generations of Americans believe that Jefferson wrote it in his Philadelphia study, influenced only by the stirring of great events around him. Challenging this romantic ideal, the five historians included here find that the document was the result of many influences and that it may have even been a collaborative writing effort on the congressional floor. Investigating various angles of the argument, the authors pose a variety of opinions on the Declaration's authorship, influences, and ultimate impact.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
A Note for Students
Part One: The Document The Declaration of IndependenceJefferson's Draft with Revisions Part Two: Introduction The Enduring Influence of the DeclarationThe Declaration as Mythology and HistoryHistorians and the Declaration Part Three: Some Current Questions 1. What was Jefferson's role in the drafting of the Declaration? Dumas Malone, Herald of Freedom: 1776, From Jefferson the Virginian 2. Is the philosophy of the Declaration Lockean? Carl Becker, The Natural Rights Philosophy, From The Declaration of Independence: A Study in the History of Political Ideas 3. Or was Jefferson more influenced by Scottish thinkers? Garry Wills, Jefferson and the Scottish Enlightenement, From Inventing America: Jefferson's Declaration of Independence 4. What was the cast of Jefferson's mind? Joseph J. Ellis, The Spring of '76: Texts and Contexts, From American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson 5. How much did the Continental Congress shape the Declaration? Pauline Maier, Mr. Jefferson and His Editors, From American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence Making ConnectionsSuggestions for Further Reading