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The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence

© Brian Tubbs

Editor's Note: This week marks the 225th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, so it is only appropriate that we break from our series on the "Origins of the American Revolution," and jump ahead to the document that defined the Revolution itself. This article looks at the Declaration's legacy, and the obligations we as Americans bear toward understanding, appreciating, and fulfilling that legacy. Following this piece, we will resume our look at the events leading up to the War for Independence.

The Legacy of the Declaration of Independence

Working with distinguished scholars and authorities from various fields of endeavor, Life magazine, in late 1999, compiled a list of the "Top 100 Events of the Millennium." These events included the introduction of Coca-Cola (#82), the invention of the telegraph (#44), Genghis Khan's empire (#29), the Wright Brothers' first flight (#27), the Model T Ford (#17), and Charles Darwin's Origin of Species (#15). Topping the list was Johann Gutenberg's printing of the Bible, which was significant on two levels: the debut of mass printing and the enhanced distribution of the cornerstone of the Christian faith, which helped power the Protestant Reformation.

When considering events over a thousand-year time span, for any one to make the "Top 100," according to the consensus of more than a few experts, is noteworthy, to say the least. Making the Top 50 or Top 20 is quite exceptional. But the Declaration of Independence did even better than that. It made the Top 10, being ranked, according to Life, the eighth most significant event for the entire planet in the previous 1,000 years.

It was 225 years ago this week that the Continental Congress, after making over 80 changes to Thomas Jefferson's handiwork, approved the Declaration of Independence.

Nervous of the unknown future in case their revolution might succeed and facing the very real danger that it would fail (which would likely mean being hunted down as traitors to the Crown), the Continental Congress courageously changed history by officially severing all ties to the British Crown. Because of their bravery and the soaring eloquence of the words our Founders chose to define that historic moment in Philadelphia, the United States of America stands today as the leading economic and military superpower in the world. And the document they approved that hot summer in Philadelphia has been the inspiration for millions of freedom-seeking people around the world, throughout history.

It is this inspiring effect, as well as its longetivity, which has made Thomas Jefferson, the document's primary wordsmith, one of the most popular figures in American history - much to the chagrin of some of his contemporaries (particularly John Adams, who did far more heavy-lifting in the revolutionary cause itself). In fact, in its "Top 100 People of the Millennium" listing, Jefferson comes in at the tenth spot, with George Washington, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin not even on the list. (James Madison makes it at #24).

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