The Declaration of Independence and the American Ethos...

Imagine traveling from the oppression that seeped from the government in Great Britain during the nineteenth century to a foreign land with the hope of living a better life. This life included â€Å"Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness† (Jefferson, 247). This life would also provide a government that allows the citizens to dictate how they are governed and the people’s opinions are always appreciated. This new government would need to be implemented and a set of ethics would need to be created. This land I am talking about is now considered the United States of America and its foundation for its ethics is the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, is a document that the majority of†¦show more content†¦These rights are the very core of American ethos. The colonizers traveled to America in hope that they would have liberty from Parliament in Great Britain. They wanted freedom to be themselves and have happiness. President Clinton correlates with the core American ethos given by Declaration of Independence when he discusses American values being, â€Å"freedom, democracy, individual rights, and free enterprise† (Clinton, 149). His statement is exactly what the inalienable rights described in the Declaration are portraying. Freedom is what America was built on which goes hand in hand with democracy, rights, and free enterprise. President Clinton also references the core ethics declared by the Declaration of Independence during his speech. He talks about the American ethic that the power of the government is in the hands of the people. He states that the election he is running in â€Å"is about putting the power back in [the hands of the people]. It’s about putting people first† (Clinton, 149). Putting the people first is making sure that the governed have their rights and freedoms. The laws hinted while listing the faults of the King of Great Britain in the Declaration also show American Ethos. Americans believe in â€Å"no taxation without representation† (Jefferson, 249). The King taxed the colonist without allowing them to haveShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of The Declaration Of Independence856 Words   |  4 Pagesits ethics is the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, is a document that the majority of American’s know about. It is taught to children as early as elementary school. I remember learning about its basics all the way back in second grade when my teacher had the class put on a play about American history. As young as I was I knew the document is important but the thought did not occur to me that it is the basis for American Ethos. 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