The National Archives: Digital Field Trip Reflection

The National Archives: Digital Field Trip Reflection
Institutional Affiliation
Student’s Name
Course Code
Professor’s name
Submission Date
 
As I looked through our country’s national archives, I was immediately drawn to one of the most consequential documents in United States’ history – The Declaration of Independence, which I retrieved from the following URL: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1419123. This document, which is one of the three documents that make up the ‘Charters of Freedom’ has secured the entitlements of the American people and is considered instrumental to the establishment of the United States.
To our nation and our people, The Declaration of Independence is significant in numerous ways. First, it reveals the ideals upon which the United States was established and grounds for separation from the Great Britain. Second, it functions as a ‘birth certificate’ for the United States, which was birthed on July fourth, 1976 - the day it was signed by the Thirteen Colonies’ congressional representative. This document is a significant component of American Democracy since it embodies the outlines and foundations of our nation. Additionally, it promotes freedom, signifies the birth of a nation, and gives hope to all individuals who aspire to live freely.
As indicated in the textbook, The Declaration of Independence is the “boldest assertion of freedom” (Sayre, 2013). This document declared freedom for individuals enslaved in America and neighboring countries. The historical importance of The Declaration of Independence is; it informs our citizens of our country’s past, continually reminding us to actively participate in our current government. The underlying idea upon which this declaration was formed is; there is a set government that acquires its authority primarily through the approval of the governed and only if the approval is freely given. This way, the authority is endowed to the governed to direct the government which governs them.