“If men were angels,” wrote James Madison in The Federalist #51, “government would not be necessary.” While understanding
Judging by contemporary histories for children, the answer is No. Scholastic’s The Declaration of Independence credits the Enlightenment for providing the philosophical stuffing. Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, a graphic history, hints at the same conclusion while naming no names. Of course, it’s politically incorrect to give a specific religion credit for anything except mayhem, but the answer could be right under our noses. I mean the document itself. It falls into three parts: A preamble, explaining why the states are declaring their independence; a list of 27 grievances against King George III, as though he were personally responsible for all of them; an announcement that the former colonies are now free states with all the rights and responsibilities thereof. God is referenced three times—as Creator, as the Supreme Judge of the world, and as Divine Providence. Is this the God of the Bible, or some generic deity?
Here’s an interesting family project: read the Declaration of Independence together, and underline or write down the principles set forth in the preamble. Such as
- The equality of all people (under law, at least)
- Their God-given rights—basically, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
- Individual autonomy (implied by the above)
- The power of the government derived from the consent of the governed
- The right of the governed to “alter or abolish” governments that fail to “effect their safety and happiness”
Now, how many of these are Christian principles? Can you cite any scripture to justify them? or any scripture against them?
“Prior to the declaration, Europeans believed that governments existed to maintain order and protect society. The Declaration of Independence, however, claims that the main function of government is to protect the rights of the person. For the first time, it was the individual, and not society, that was considered the most important.”
True or false? Discuss among yourselves.
Current histories for children tend to riff on “all men are created equal,” pointing out that women could not vote and—guess what?—many of the signers, including Jefferson himself, owned slaves. McDaniel writes, “Though the Declaration says that all men are created equal, Americans have often not been treated equally.” But she fails to mention that nowhere in the world could women vote at that time, nor had there been any sustained effort to abolish slavery. Those advances came with time, after the establishment of political equality, and our forefathers seldom get the benefit of being judged by their own lights.
One author who attempts to do this is Cheryl Harness (yes, I’m a fan), and I highly recommend her pictorial biography o
A different, and fun, perspective for reading aloud is The Journey of The One and Only Declaration of Independence, which doesn’t spend a lot of space on content but uses the history of the original document to reflect a capsule history of the United States. It also introduces a little-known hero: Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, who preserved the actual copy signed by John Hancock et al. throughout the ups and downs of the war and the upheavals of the early government. The illustrations are emblematic, in a style reminiscent of Tomie De Paola, with recurring themes. Younger children who have trouble following the text will enjoy finding the eagle in every spread.
The Declaration of Independence (Cornerstones of Freedom), by Melissa McDaniel. Scholastic, 2012, 62 pages. Age/interest level: 9-13.
Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence (Graphic Heroes of the American Revolution), by Gary Jeffrey, illustrated by Emanuelle Boccanfuso, Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2012, 24 pp. Age/interest level: 8-12.
Thomas Jefferson, by Cheryl Harness. National Geographic, 2004, 43 pp. Age/interest level: 10-up.
The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence, by Judith St. George, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand. Philomel, 2012, 40 pp. Age/interest level: 6-10.
?For more insight on Jefferson and the Declaration, be sure to read Emily’s interview with Dr. Carol Swain of Vanderbilt University–great stuff!
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Loved this post! thank you! Great job evaluating all the resources!
Thank you, Melissa! I appreciate the compliment.