American Scripture

In the context of this book, a declaration is a political document declaring a people’s rights and a government’s obligations. Maier cites the 1689 English Declaration of Rights as inaugurating this tradition, which American leaders drew from in drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Maier devotes significant attention to the Grievances section of the Declaration, noting that it was crucial to the colonists at the time, even though it's often overlooked today. The grievances listed specific abuses by King George III and were meant to prove that British rule had become illegitimate. Maier points out that these grievances were crafted to resonate with various colonial audiences, serving both to justify independence and to foster unity among the colonies by presenting the king as a tyrant whose actions warranted rebellion.

Independence, in a political context, means self-government, without interference from colonial powers. In American Scripture, Maier capitalizes the term to refer to American Independence from Great Britain—a convention this guide adopts.

Natural Rights are central to the Declaration's philosophy, and Maier discusses how Jefferson drew from Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke. She explains how the assertion of rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness provided a moral justification for independence, framing the colonists' struggle as a defense of universal principles. Maier emphasizes that this appeal to Natural Rights was not only philosophical but also a political move to unite the colonies and gain international sympathy, positioning the British government as violating fundamental human rights.

A republic is a constitutional government in which leaders are elected by the public and theoretically derive their authority from public consent. This contrasts with monarchy, a form of government in which power is inherited.