Understanding the Declaration of Independence - 9 Key Concepts Everyone Should Know

[moshcustom]

How about that list @ 6:35? Sounds almost like the contemporary government, no?

[TheJord1985]

"that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the concent of the governed" he says"the reason for the governments exists is to secure those rights".... but to secure those rights wouldnt you have to beleive in a supreme being who endowed you those rights ? So apparently atheist dont have rights.. hah

[cmseibert]

@TheJord1985 answer – 2 views – 1) rights are inalienable and given by God and therefore cannot be taken away 2) rights are given by government – the govt bequeaths or the govt takes away. An atheists’ rights are most protected under a system where a majority of citizens believe God grants rights and that government is not the final authority, but there is a higher authority.

[cmseibert]

@TheJord1985 This system actually allows the atheist the most freedom, because all though he/she does not believe in a higher power, a majority does, so their rights are protected. If however, govt is viewed as final authority and God is irrelevant, you have tribalism. Whatever tribe gets in power dominates all other tribes and anything goes because might makes right. ~ The essence of Tyranny.

[suddenlyitsobvious]

...reality, now that we have the luxury of knowing how the US (and the world!) fared since the signing of the Declaration, what the nature is of the system that progressively developed once control was taken under the auspices of these wonderful humanistic ideals -to be secured of course by GOVERNMENT (govern - mente; govern minds)- it becomes somewhat naive to continue assuming that the signatories were such kindhearted luminaries.

[suddenlyitsobvious]

The system is always very eloquent and adept at producing high-flying values of 'humanity' and 'brotherhood' and 'liberty' and soforth when it is convenient.

The founding fathers have today taken on a saint-like aura in the eyes of the masses but the SECRETIVE masonic control behind it all indicates some caution is advised.

What if it was simply decided in high places that a separation from Great-Britain was a convenient and necessary stage for increasing control of global affairs? In...

[JivanFeliciano]

............what?

[GUALLACOL]

On 2 July 1776 the Declaration of Independence of the U.S. was declared! On 4 July 1776 our forefathers went public. On 2 August 1776 the document was completed for signatures!

[joraejean]

It is nice to see, we are following the Constitution. States do run their own programs for schools, roads and their own laws....Fed have always, from the onstitution on, done what the constitution states...Military, Postal and General wealfare...Are you trying to say, the Center for Disease should be run by each state? What department in the Feds goverance is outside connon sense using their ability to pass on knowlege ad rules of that knowledge?

[joraejean]

You sort of present this as if, it has changed...The Federal government basically was allowed to set up what was legal and not, the military, postal acknowledge each state has their own Congress. They do...The federal government sends mony to states who run short with their own funds, that run their own schools, roads...etc...You want to stop the Federal government from sending money?

[joraejean]

Every state, has a state government...and a state congress

Every state governs it state taxes for individuals and corporations

Every state chooses it's text books and structures education

Every state declares their own laws for illegals, speed limits, burning regulations, etc

Every state has their own MediCaid...In LA is called MediCal

The Feds send money, basically to help the states.

There is "Fed only" for Military and post offices...Others came up..like regulating clean food, CDC...

[andrewhirsch]

Thank you for this video. I have always known and loved the DoI, but this video (although not explicitly stated) let me realize that the DoI is not only to be taken as a symbol of our nation, but as a SOURCE OF LAW. To say otherwise is a farce, for how could the very document that brought our States into existence not be taken as a source of law. Just as the Bill of Rights, the DoI establishes our rights and the purpose of our government. GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES

[MrTimjd123]

Sounds like the founders were fighting the same forces Occupy Wall Street are fighting against.

[programedmind]

thanks for the info brotha very interesting and angering how the have one man appointed for the 50 independant states. and he is still only a puppet for the elite. Freedom is not given it is taken. KRS 1

[programedmind]

thanks for the info brotha very interesting and angering how the have one man appointed for the 50 independant states. and he is still only a puppet for the elite. Freedom is not given it taken. KRS 1

[gbushimprov]

Anyone else notice that there's an english flag in the arms on the wall at the back of the painting at the end?

[jeb5896]

How many know that the introduction of slavery in the colonies was listed as one of the abuses by King George? However it was removed in order not to alienate the southern colonies.

[espoire1757]

Thomas Jefferson was also a person in favour of slavery and the most merciless enemy of the Indians! Of right he was acknowledging none to the Indians not even that to live! That politics was the one of the excessive colonisation of the territories Indian without any consideration for the right!

[ebonyfax2]

The Underground Railroad has been greatly exaggerated by historians.

Truth is: Very few slaves tried to flee. Even those who lived on border states, including those who literally lived on state lines with free states, didn't care to walk the few steps to "freedom."

[samuelfye]

I mean, c;mon, people! "Self-evident"? It's pretty easy to see what they were getting at here!

[wall8427]

The author of this Declaration of Independence did not believe in equality...

[barren2]

restitude???!!!

[Nino2666B]

Frederick Douglass, the SON OF SLAVES, in the Dred Scott Speech supported the Dec of Indepence and the Constitution. He said, "In conclusion, let me say, all I ask of the American people is, that they live up to the Constitution, adopt its principles, imbibe its spirit, and enforce its provisions. "

[MagicTellaVision]

(One Free Nation (((Not))) Under God)

[MyYogiB]

It's plain as day to me... This should be taught in all USA schools and not glanced over as they do today in our schools systems.

[catnkaboodle]

from 5:31 - 6:45, isn't that the problem we are having now?

[Kingery4President]

Excellent presentation on the UNITED STATES Founding Charter

[NightSound94]

there wouldn't be any declaration without my ancester. . and I'am from Finland :DD I don't even know why i mentioned this don't flame me. . BUT this is true

[darkerzone]

which of the three major parts of the declaration of independence is the most importan??????????????????

[swordwielder]

our professor showed us this video in the class today... it's a very interesting video

[Mike10four]

"Self-evident" truths declared within the "Laws of Nature" renders, "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" universal to all life from bacteria to humans. Life has the freedom in the pursuit of survival. Survival is a metaphor of Happiness fulfilling objectives of living and procreation common to all life. Life with a brain perceives additional objectives in the pursuit of Happiness relative to a species reality. These rights were here before humans, transcending any human defined rights.

[barnEruble]

Your interpretation is sound but incomplete. WHO are the people this declaration was aimed at? That is a very important omission. Here's a hint. "To a candid world." Why? This declaration was a declaration of war and the colonies needed ALLIES!

[Hagalazii]

The fact about the sovereign states is good to know. Quite interesting how they viewed the "States" then. Ive always been wondering why it aint called a federal republic.

Very informative video.

Best regards from Germany.

[tegdoh]

@Hagalazii

Here's a clue: the Federalists lost.

[chaosad09]

just about all of the grievances listed for the king of england are relevant to what our govenment is doing to us today.  hmmm. mabye its time to make a new declaration of independence from our current oppressors.

[tegdoh]

@chaosad09

The difference is that we voted for our current so-called "oppressors." If you don't like the current policies of this administration then by all means vote for someone else in the next election. But calling for a new "declaration of independence" from a duly elected government is idiotic.

[chaosad09]

@tegdoh Yeah, we did vote for them, but. Voteing in this country has basicly turned in trying to decide which farmer to buy our fertilizer from. It dont matter wich one you buy it from, your still buying shit.

[breedofthe45]

Don't you know the Constitution is creationists propaganda? Since the words "all men are CREATED equal",are in it. The Separation of Religion and State commands you to be an atheist, or anything except a christian.You must Belive in Evolution even against your will. Also under Separation of religion and state, the Constitution needs to be replace, Karl Marx' Communists Manifesto is a true scientifical Fact to be use instead of a creationists propaganda like the Constitution.

Atheism=Madness

[cmseibert]

@breedofthe45 great satire I hope. I suspect your comments will create some great comments.

[breedofthe45]

@cmseibert I didn't mean to disrespect your channel, Very usefull information in your videos that needs to be put in schools, instead we let these Marxists educate us. There is and can be no middle ground between Marxism and the American Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution. There can be no compromise here. There is no room to negotiate. You cannot meet any Marxist notion, such as Equality Via Redistribution, part way and still support the Declaration and the Constitution.

[Southjerzyduckhunter]

@breedofthe45 The Constitution is creationist propaganda? you are ridiculous

[Porojukaha]

@breedofthe45 lol have you ever even read Marx's Manifesto? It reads like an 8th graders spark notes fueled essay. he was just a bum who was jealous of successful people. He didnt want to have to work himself, so he devised the most virulent scam in history. He didnt care about ANYONE, especially not the proletariat. You should research his life. He let a few of his own children STARVE to death and that was during a period when, in england, where he lived, starvation was practically unheard o

[Porojukaha]

It amazes me how far most peoples heads are up their ass that they can call the most important and incredible invention in human HISTORY the constitution, a bad thing and call the WORST form of government ever devised, namely communism, a good thing. Especially in the face of such overwhelming evidence. Its like they are arguing that the sky is really red and it actually rains donuts not water. Wake the fuck up!!!

[Porojukaha]

A woman once asked Ben Franklin what the Founding Fathers were giving us with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He said, "A Republic ma'am, if you can keep it."

[Mcw1gz]

@breedofthe45 you're spending way too much time at church lol

[noprimenumbers]

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

It was vital to show that the King was given opportunity and a last chance to correct the wrongs inflicted. And stands today for what we can do to correct our current government when wrong.

[translationwiz]

The King is gone! Long live all the presidents men!

Still..........God bless America.

[chrishufstetler]

Great info!! But............... He forgot to include "being taxed without our concent"

[olive666kc]

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for ONE PEOPLE to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with ANOTHER. This means base on the English language, that sentence is talking about two separate groups of people. The Europeans in America and the British empire.

And to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of Nature's God (the laws of Nature and Nature's God separate, two separate laws. entitle them, a

[olive666kc]

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for ONE PEOPLE to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with ANOTHER. This means base on the English language, that sentence is talking about two separate groups of people. The Europeans in America and the British empire.

And to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of Nature's God (the laws of Nature and Nature's God separate, two separate laws.

[ThumbsUPifUMakeMeLOL]

@cmseibert This is an excellent video my friend. I just sent this to my nieces and told them to show their teachers to find out if it compares to what/how the D.O.I. is currently being taught in schools. : )

[tone4624]

great job cmseibert, i wish more would watch this video,you explain so well, are you a teacher? well should be, you schooled me, and the first part has so much todo whats goin on today! thanks..

[da4re]

Great job sir!

It is clear they wanted people to be able to redress grievances.

In the following years many issues have been addressed. . . . Slavery, sufferage, etc.

These principles are timeless. Our unalienable rights should be upheld at all cost.

Again thank you.

Dave

[grizzlybear73]

Excellent, excellent summary and breakdown. Thank you for conveying these concepts!

[jerryknoff]

I, personally, really need to study our incredible founding documents... and this video is extremely helpful.

[spnov59]

Thank you so much for sharing! I know a lot more than I ever knew about this great document. I am 71 yrs old, better late than never!

[drocketman2000]

But you also have to consider that the slaves were considered to be chattel property, like a goat, cow or pig, and NOT as fellow men. What other concept could possibly be used as a justification for holding slaves? So when the term "men" was used, the meaning of it depended upon the user, not the reader.

Randy

[cmseibert]

@drocketman2000 - Slavery is wrong and wicked. However, that said, most people know little about the history of slavery. We immediately jump to the pre-civil war period, when the African Slave trade was at its height and it was its most brutal and fit your description of chattel property. In the period preceeding the revolutionary war, most people do not realize that there were slaves of all ethnicities and in many situations they came as endentured servants to pay for the passage to colonies

[themunz126]

@cmseibert even more important to remember, negros sold negros into slavery. They captured their own people and sold them to slave traders -

[MRWhiteFolksCakes]

@cmseibert Annnnnnd Slavery is Still an ABOMINATION..... Hope that helps. ;-)

[buildergordy]

@drocketman2000 If you read the history of The abolitionist movement you will find that the fight to end slavery begin before this nation was founded. Both the Declaration and the Constitution were used to show that slavery was an evil. The US joined the UK in outlawing the African slave trade in 1807.

For 30 some odd years leading up to the Civil War there was a constant fight to end slavery in the US. Plus we did pay a huge price in blood and treasure to balance these scales

[buildergordy]

@drocketman2000 If you read the history of The abolitionist movement you will find that the fight to end slavery begin before this nation was founded. Both the Declaration and the Constitution were used to show that slavery was an evil. The US joined the UK in outlawing the African slave trade in 1807.

For 30 some odd years leading up to the Civil War there was a constant fight to end slavery in the US. Plus we did pay a huge price in blood and treasure to balance these scales

[Thisisnotmyrealname8]

@drocketman2000 You wrote, "So when the term "men" was used, the meaning of it depended upon the user, not the reader." This is your interpretation (rhetoric), it is not factual. It is not based on logic.

It is a wrong conclusion. You even admit that slaves were NOT looked upon as equal humans - this is a correct premise.

The definition that has changed from the past is NOT "men", but slaves. Slaves were not by definition equal to men, but today definition of chattel is considered unjust.

[Thisisnotmyrealname8]

With History you have to use the same context throughout, and the initial context is that "slaves were not considered equals to men" - a correct premise. The silent premise you have, that slaves ARE equal to men, may be true, but it would not follow to conclude that men in the past were defining "men" differently than today, but rather they were defining "slaves" differently. Your way is to say "slaves were never slaves", which is fine, but not in the particular line of logic you take.

[Thisisnotmyrealname8]

Also, for the logic that says, "slaves were never slaves" you would find that "slaves are not equal to men" is false. So, the men in the past were mistaken about the status of blacks among the human family, but not mistaken about the status of men. When you apply this understanding to the Constitution today you see that the Constitution's intent is the same, but our understanding about the change in history is the difference.

Maybe, I'm saying too much here, but I hope this helps.

[ProfessorErnest]

@drocketman2000 Most of the founders were divided on the issue of slavery, At the time, the slavery issue was a heated debate, and seeing as they were trying to bring about a new government, didn't want to raise a topic that might threaten to divide it at such an early fragile stage.

[Porojukaha]

@drocketman2000 a common fallacy is to attribute slavery to the american constitution or government. When in fact, that document was the root of what would eventually end slavery. saying that slavery is americas fault and is a flaw in teh constitution is like saying that women were only not allowed to vote because blacks were freed of slavery and had that not happened they would have been able to vote earlier. When, in fact, had the slaves not been freed womens sufferage couldnt have happened

[RREDDELL]

What is amazing is how everyone brings up the slavery when they talk about man are equal,  but never talks about the "Savage Indians". Remember, those "Savages" was on the land long before Jefferson put his pen in the ink.

[66605]

This is a good summary but it gets one important fact wrong. The equality clause is referring not to men as individuals but to men as groups or political societies. This makes more sense since the document's purpose is to announce the independence of the 13 American states. It was not a statement of individual rights. Also, this way of reading the Declaration spares the Founders the charge of being hypocrites since so many of them owned slaves.

[cmseibert]

@66605

I don't find any compelling evidence that the statement of equality was meant for groups. It is very clear that the phrase, "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" was meant for the individual. The context is that "all men are created equal, with certain unalienable rights."... this is very clear language to the individual. On the slavery issue, they were British subjects, the Declaration was set forth as an ideal, the minority that did hold slaves released them.

[66605]

@cmseibert

The evidence that the equality clause was speaking of men as groups or political societies starts in the 1st paragraph. It speaks of "people" who dissolve the political bands which unite them with another people, for the sake of assuming among the powers of the earth the separate and EQUAL station which the laws of Nature and Natures God entitle them. Notice the "them". Jefferson was speaking on behalf of 13 states and their right to self government, not individuals.

[MRWhiteFolksCakes]

@cmseibert EXACTLY!!! Otherwise we might have fought a Civil War over it!!!  ;-)

[tegdoh]

@cmseibert

While some of the founding fathers were personally against slavery, they also owned slaves until their deaths (or the death of his spouse, in the case of Washington), and did nothing to mitigate the institution of slavery in the colonies.

[forfreedomandliberty]

@cmseibert I also think these are individual freedoms & rights.

[highenergyboy]

@66605 What proof do you have to support your theory (I've never heard of this so-called "fact" before) that the equality clause refers to men as groups instead of as individuals?

When you talk about group or collective rights, what you're really alluding to is communism, which places the well-being of the whole society over that of the individual. This goes completely against what the Founding Fathers believed in, which were indeed individual rights.

[66605]

@highenergyboy

If you read Jefferson's Summary View of the Rights of British America 1774 you will see that he uses the same language in the Declaration of Ind. He was speaking on behalf of the American colonies or states and their political equality with other nations, not individual human rights. If our Founders believed all individual humans possessed the same political rights (equality) they could have proved it by ending slavery and giving everyone the right to vote. They hated democracy.

[highenergyboy]

@66605 Abolishing slavery simply wasn't feasible at the time. The Founders needed the support of the Southern states in ratifying the new Constitution. If they had tried to push for emancipation, these states would have most certainly recalled their delegates from the convention and withdrew their support for the Union entirely, and then there would have been no United States of America period. Instead, the Founders did the judicious thing by compromising on the issue and leaving it at that.

[66605]

@highenergyboy

You do not answer how slavery ever got a foothold here in the USA if "all men are created equal", referring to individuals, was the creed of the Founders. They had to be foolish and hypocritical to say such a thing if they were slave holders. The equality they spoke of was of men as political societies or states. Each state has the right to govern itself, to be independent, to assume its EQUAL station among the powers of the earth. This is what Jefferson was speaking about.

[66605]

@highenergyboy

One can accept the fact that men collectively have rights (you've heard of states rights?) and at the same time believe in individual rights. My point is that Jefferson was speaking of the rights of political societies, not individuals, in the Declaration of Independence. No communism here.

[title1teacher]

@66605

The "revolutionary" aspect of the Declaration is that rights come to INDIVIDUALS from their Creator NOT FROM GOVERNMENT. You are an ignorant progressive. Sorry to be redundant.

[66605]

@title1teacher

I agree with you about the source of rights, but, the same can be said of peoples or political societies. The Declaration of Independence was speaking of the rights of states not individuals. Its purpose was to explain the separation and liberty of the13 American colonies from the state of Britain. Why would individual rights be part of the discussion? Americans objected to being governed by a foreign legislature. This was a group thing not an individual thing.

[Dysharmonya]

This is great thank you!

[kurryAN25]

An amazing video. I am a Canadian, but seeing this video can really explain how important the foundations of a nation really is, and sir, you have done an exceptional job in analyzing and explaining these concepts.

[canadianprincesss]

@kurryAN25 I am from Canada as well but now I am an American citizen and these documents are truly amazing when you read them because they cover literally everything. Sadly, most American's don't even know what is in the Declaration of Independance...hopefully this video can be passed around so that maybe it can put some interest into people in learning the History of this country.

[greenbuddy421]

@canadianprincesss It breaks my American heart to know that what you say is true :(

[keyaro]

@canadianprincesss you're absolutely right. we do take things for granted here. couple that with ignorance and you see we're on the verge of giving away our liberties. things are tough right now, but real americans don't give up - especially when freedom is on the line. you be encouraged canadianprincess.

[zepDzen]

Im so happy you did this video, thank you! Everyone that see's this should pass it on! =)

[AbolitionistCrawley]

Great!!! You really opened my eyes to understanding The Declaration thanks.

[elnino103083]

Definitely going to use this in my classroom. Thanks Craig!

[pianoyugo]

thanks for this i love studying the american history and this helps very much to understand the declaration in a much better way:)

from the Netherlands

[PatriotReporting]

well done!

[sa22see]

Also this should be mandatory in all schools around the nation.That's just my opinion.

[sa22see]

Thank You for doing this,This will help lot's of peolpe that need to know or constitution and why this country is so great.