Declaration of Independence. Reading response. Social Sciences Essay

Declaration of Independence
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Institutional Affiliation
Declaration of Independence
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of independence. This historical document marked the separation from the Great Britain of 13 former British colonies in North America. A unanimous vote by all the 12 members present, with New York abstaining, resolved that the colonies have the right to be free and Independent States (National Archives, 2014). Apart from the emphasis on freedom, the declaration also touched on other critical social matters. Hundreds of years later, the landscape has greatly changed both domestically and internationally. This paper seeks to find the significance of this document and its contents in the modern world.
In the light of all the atrocities that the King had meted on these colonies and its people, the need for freedom is mentioned in the document. Moreover, it is stated that all men are created equal and given various rights by God. These rights include freedom and happiness. The vision of this document drafted hundreds of years back is astonishing. It is also unfortunate that throughout history, the country has struggled to live with this vision. The slavery-era went completely agai...