Background and Analysis of the American Declaration of Independence

Abstract

This study emphasises the role of the Declaration of Independence in the construction of American national identity by addressing its background, writing process and content. Firstly, the importance of the Declaration in American history is emphasised. It discusses how the Declaration influenced various social and political transformations such as the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution and women's rights movements, and highlights how the 4th of July became a day of celebration for the United States. In order to understand the background of the American Declaration of Independence, the causes of the American War of Independence (1775-1783), Britain's colonial policies and discontent in the colonies were analysed, and the process of the formation of the demand for independence was explained. The study also includes the life, thoughts and contradictory attitudes of Thomas Jefferson, one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence, discusses the thinkers Jefferson was influenced by while preparing the declaration, and examines the philosophical foundations of the basic concepts such as ‘the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ in the document. Finally, the sections of the Declaration were analysed; the introduction, preface, list of grievances, indictment of the British people and declaration of independence were explained. The unjust practices of King George III of England and his oppression of the colonies are listed and the criticisms of the declaration against England are presented.

Keywords

• Thomas Jefferson
• American Declaration of Independence
• England
• 4th of July
• King George III

Amerikan Bağımsızlık Bildirgesi’nin Arka Planı ve Analizi

Öz

Bu çalışma, Amerikan Bağımsızlık Bildirgesi’nin arka planını, yazılma sürecini ve içeriğini ele alarak bildirgenin Amerikan ulusal kimliğin inşasında oynadığı role vurgu yapmaktadır. İlk olarak, bildirgenin Amerikan tarihindeki önemine değinilmiştir. Bildirgenin Fransız Devrimi, Haiti Devrimi ve kadın hakları hareketleri gibi çeşitli sosyal ve siyasi dönüşümleri nasıl etkilediği tartışılmış, 4 Temmuz tarihinin ABD için bir kutlama günü hâline gelişi vurgulanmıştır. Amerikan Bağımsızlık Bildirgesi’nin arka planının anlaşılması için Amerikan Bağımsızlık Savaşı’nın (1775-1783) nedenleri, İngiltere’nin sömürge politikaları ve kolonilerdeki hoşnutsuzluklar incelenmiş, bağımsızlık talebinin oluşum süreci açıklanmıştır. Çalışmada ayrıca Bağımsızlık Bildirgesi’nin yazarlarından biri olan Thomas Jefferson’ın hayatı, düşünceleri ve çelişkili tutumlarına yer verilmiş, Jefferson’ın bildirgeyi hazırlarken etkilendiği düşünürler ele alınmış ve belgede yer alan “yaşam, özgürlük ve mutluluğu arama hakkı” gibi temel kavramların felsefi temelleri irdelenmiştir. Çalışmada son olarak bildirgenin bölümleri incelenmiş; giriş, önsöz, şikayetler listesi, İngiliz halkına itham ve bağımsızlığın ilanı kısımları açıklanmıştır. İngiltere Kralı III. George’un adaletsiz uygulamaları ve kolonilere yönelik baskıları sıralanarak, bildirgenin İngiltere’ye yönelik eleştirileri aktarılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Thomas Jefferson
• Amerikan Bağımsızlık Bildirgesi
• İngiltere
• 4 Temmuz
• Kral III. George

Kaynakça

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