United States History to 1877 Free Essay Example, 1000 words

Although Thomas Jefferson penned the original rough draft of the United s’ Declaration of Independence, the document as initially created looks very different from the version that was widely publicized and sent to the British King. In fact, that rough draft was first revised by Jefferson’s close friends Benjamin Franklin, followed by the so-called â€Å"Committee of Five†, consisting of Roger Sherman, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, and Robert R. Livingston, and then lastly by the Second Continental Congress as a whole. By the end of that process, the final version had removed the most controversial elements of Jefferson’s political sentiments. By the time the document had been edited and polished by the Continental Congress, it was nearly a full one-fourth shorter than the original draft. Much of the omissions can be attributed to the poetic language that Jefferson used in his original draft. For example, Jefferson writes, â€Å"They too have been deaf to the Voice of Justice and of Consanguinity, and when occasions have been given them by the regular Course of their Laws of removing from their Councils, the Disturbers of our Harmony, they have by their free Election, re-established them in Power†. We will write a custom essay sample on United States History to 1877 or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now In the final, published copy, the Declaration says, â€Å"They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity†. The difference is quite clear in terms of the concepts used, such as â€Å"Voice of Justice†, â€Å"Course of their Laws†, â€Å"Disturbers of our Harmony†, and so on. Jefferson’s writing, although lyrical and dramatic in tone, may have been polished and changed in Committee in order to deliver a tight, terse message to the American people and to the British King. Consistent with American ideals of democracy, the language of the document may have been changed to appeal to a wider audience, including those for whom Jefferson’s language may have been too lofty or academic. In addition, one can tell from the many omissions made from Jefferson’s section denouncing the British people for their role in attacks against Americans that the Congress was uncomfortable with alienating t heir supporters overseas. Also, an entire passage in the original Declaration of Independence dedicated to the issue of slavery was edited out of the document, suggesting that the Continental Congress had no interest in committing themselves to abolishing the slave trade essential to the Southern economy. Although Jefferson was slave-owner himself, he blames the British King for waging â€Å"cruel War against human Nature itself† by seizing slaves’ rights to life and liberty and then inciting those people â€Å"to rise in Arms against us†.