The Declaration Of Independence By Pauline Maier - 965 Words

American Scripture is a work of nonfiction written by Pauline Maier and published in 1997 by the Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. publishing company. The book centers on the writing of the Declaration of Independence and how it influences America. It also looks at the various aspects that control and shape how the Declaration is written. Within the book, many of the fundamental principles of United States are discussed. Three of the most important ones addressed throughout the book are limited government, popular sovereignty, and equality. The first fundamental principle discussed in American Scripture is limited government. Colonial America was a place of much dissatisfaction. The King controlled the colonies and made policies that angered and upset his colonial subjects. Throughout the book, it is shown that many people wanted a new government with little power held in the central government. One such person is William Henry Drayton who wrote his own Declaration of Independence. Draytonâ€⠄¢s proclamation told King George III that his actions left the throne â€Å"absolutely and completely vacant†. Drayton believed that the King’s monarchial actions in the years leading up to his writing made him unfit to lead the colonies and he instead believed that a leader with less absolute power should take over control. Drayton’s specific problems with the King included his taxation and his troops. He believed that excessive taxation was not tolerable if the citizens could not control what the moneyShow MoreRelatedRatification : The People Debate1728 Words   |  7 Pagesusually presented as a unifying document establishing a system of government that most efficiently ensures the states’ newly won independence. Those who opposed ratification of the Constitution were seen as against a strong federal governmental power and obstructive in their opposition. In her book, Ratification: The People debate the Constitution, 1787-1788, Pauline Maier exami ned the often-tempestuous state-level debates over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and found there was a legitimateRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence By Thomas Jefferson1455 Words   |  6 PagesThe Declaration of Independence is viewed by just about every patriotic American citizen as one of the most ideologically appropriate documents encapsulating the beliefs for which the United States of America stands. Written in 1776, it encompasses the themes of freedom for every man in the world, a concept and belief that is still the central idea and goal in this country well over 200 years later. Much credit is due to those who authored such an inspirational and monumental document. The most famousRead MoreSamuel Adams As A Code Hero Essay1436 Words   |  6 Pagesthe knot of lignum vitae that tied North America to Great Britain.† (Maier 13). 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A committeeRead MoreEssay on Corrupt Nature Of The Founding Fathers1584 Words   |  7 Pagescould only be held by a man worth at least $100,000.15 The Fathers truly feared that the poor would tread upon the rich, but most would probably admit that without restraints, the rich would tread upon the poor.16 The argument in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal was written by the Fathers, but only to refer to a legal proposition, not that of a political or psychological one.17 This phrase did not refer to the uneducated dirt farmer of grimy-handed ship caulkerRead MoreCorrupt Nature of the Founding Fathers1588 Words   |  7 Pagescould only be held by a man worth at least $100,000.15 The Fathers truly feared that the poor would tread upon the rich, but most would probably admit that without restraints, the rich would tread upon the poor.16 The argument in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal was written by the Fathers, but only to refer to a legal proposition, not that of a political or psychological one.17 This phrase did not refer to the uneducated dirt farmer of grimy-handed ship caulkerRead More Declaration of Independence Essay2008 Words   |  9 Pageswhen America, as a new nation declared to the world its independence from monarchs. Because of the importance of this day, thus, the Declaration of Independence can be considered as one of the most influential documents in American History. Not only that, other organizations and countries have also adopted its manner and tones for their own documents or declarations, such as â€Å"Declaration of the Rights of Man† from France or the â€Å"Declaration of Sentiments† from the Women’s Right movement. After theRead More The Declaration of Independence: A Closer Look Essay2643 Words   |  11 Pages In What Did the Declaration Declare?, Joseph J. Ellis, an editor for history publications presents various historical perceptions on the analytical conception of this mythic text of American public life. The Declaration of Independence has enjoyed a long and useful career as an expression of quot;natural rights,quot; providing Americans with an influential statement of their national doctrine. Thomas Jefferson had no reason to believe that he was writing a document that would become so reveredRead MoreInterpreting the Constitution (Strict vs. Loose); Jefferson and Hamilt1896 Words   |  8 Pagesprohibiting the free exercise thereof; thus building a wall of separation between church and state. This letter affirmed Jeffersons belief that church and state should be separated and includes the celebrated phrase, a wall of eternal separation (Maier, 2000). His views on religion are also expressed in Document B******, Jefferson states, I consider the government of the United States as interdicted by the Constitution from intermeddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline