How well do you know the backstory that led to the Declaration of Independence? As the United States celebrates its 250-year anniversary this year, let’s revisit that era in history that led to this declaration and the lessons applicable to us today.
The unrest that led to the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence began in 1763 at the conclusion of the Seven Years’ (French & Indian) War, when England restricted colonial expansion and settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains. Parliament passed the Stamp Act two years later (1765), instituting the first direct tax on the colonies. The Townshend Acts that followed placed duties on essential goods, leading to boycotts and fueling the resentment of England by the American colonists.
The tipping point came in 1773 when colonists destroyed a massive shipment of British tea, an act of defiance against taxation without representation. Today, we know this as the Boston Tea Party. The British responded by closing Boston Harbor and suspending self-government in Massachusetts in 1774. This united the colonists in their opposition to Britain.
One year later (1775), the “shot heard round the world” marked the start of armed conflict with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, marking the start of the Revolutionary War.
By the time the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, the colonies and Britain had already been in a state of open military conflict for over a year. The Declaration formally announced the thirteen American colonies’ formal severance from British rule, citing grievances against King George III and asserting natural rights.
A Committee of Five, appointed by Congress, was commissioned to draft the document. The Five included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Thomas Jefferson, and Roger Sherman. Jefferson was tasked to draft the primary draft, which was then edited by the Committee and later by Congress.
The final text was adopted on July 4, 1776, but most of the delegates signed the official parchment copy on August 2, 1776.
The Declaration of Independence established the United States as an independent nation, influenced by Judeo-Christian ideals, and formally launched the Revolutionary War. The document declared that individual rights were derived from a “Creator” rather than a monarch or a state, directly reflecting biblical ideals regarding human dignity and the sanctity of life.
The belief that “all men were created equal” stems from the religious concept that all individuals are made in the image of God. The final paragraph contains a firm reliance on the “protection of a divine Providence,” demonstrating a collective belief in a God who intervenes in human affairs.
While the Declaration of Independence is not a theological document, the language of “Nature’s God” and “Creator” represents a synthesis of Enlightenment rationalism and traditional Biblical theology that was common in the American colonies at the time.
The document is characterized by its declarative style, establishing universal principles as truth. The statement, “We hold these truths to be self-evident…” declares certain rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, to be inherently obvious, unquestionable, and given to all men who were created equal.
It was truly a Declaration of Independence.
There is great power and authority in a declaration. Declarations have the authority of law.
By definition, a declaration is a formal, explicit, or official announcement, spoken or written, to make something known, such as a statement of truth, a proclamation, or a legal document. It is the act of proclaiming or a document that embodies this announcement.
It is the professing of a “thing” to be, a person or event to be recognized, or the act of speaking (declaring) something into existence. It is a statement, announcement, proclamation, affirmation, or assertion. A declaration is also the establishment of a position in an explicit, formal, or emphatic manner.
As a formal or explicit statement, a declaration can be used to:
· Acknowledge or confirm the existence of specific facts.
· Profess or avow a position, belief, or intent.
· Decree a binding order or decision.
· Proclaim something loudly, clearly, or officially to the public.
· Define or set the parameters of a relationship or concept.
· Establish a new entity, policy, or legal right.
· Attest to the truth, authenticity, or correctness of a statement or document.
· Announce an event or decision officially.
· Promulgate a law, rule, or regulation.
The word declaration comes from the Latin “declarare,” (dec-la-RA), which means to make quite clear. There can be no doubt, no question, no lack of clarity when something is declared. It serves as a statement of claims or an affirmation of a truth. Throughout human history, we have seen declarations of war, peace, surrender, independence, and emergency. A jury verdict is a declaration of guilt or innocence.
And throughout history, we’ve seen declarations of love professed in many ways. The words, “I now pronounce you as husband and wife,” are a declaration, a truth, announcing to the world that two individuals have joined together in matrimony.
Declarations serve as authoritative announcements. They also serve as official statements. When we declare something, we are making an official statement, formally and publicly stating a fact or intention. When we declare something, we reveal something. We “make it known” to the world.
There is great power and authority in a declaration. Declarations have the authority of law.
The Founding Fathers spoke a nation into existence with the Declaration of Independence. They declared their freedom from British rule and dominion. 250 years later, the United States of America is not just surviving, but continues to thrive as the world’s economic and military superpower, serving as a model to the rest of the world.
So, what is the lesson from this history lesson we can apply to our lives today?
There is great power and authority in a declaration. Declarations have the authority of law.
Remember, a declaration can be used to:
· Acknowledge or confirm the existence of specific facts.
· Profess or avow a position, belief, or intent.
· Decree a binding order or decision.
· Proclaim something loudly, clearly, or officially to the public.
· Define or set the parameters of a relationship or concept.
· Establish a new entity, policy, or legal right.
· Attest to the truth, authenticity, or correctness of a statement or document.
· Announce an event or decision officially.
· Promulgate a law, rule, or regulation.
What, then, are you acknowledging? Professing? Decreeing? Proclaiming? Defining? Establishing? Attesting? Announcing? Promulgating? What are you affirming to be true over your life and your future?
There is great power and authority in a declaration. Declarations have the authority of law.
When you make a declaration, you are proclaiming something to be true. A declaration acts as a firm, present-tense assertion that establishes a new reality in your life. By making a declaration, you are acknowledging, proclaiming, and defining a new reality in your life.
Throughout history, there have been a number of powerful declarations:
· “Give me liberty, or give me death…” ~ Patrick Henry
· “I have not yet begun to fight…” ~ John Paul Jones
· “We shall fight on the beaches…” ~ Winston Churchill
· “I have a dream…” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
· “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less…” ~ John Maxwell
All of these statements served as defining moments in the lives of these individuals. They declared a truth, lived by that truth, and their stories have been recorded in the annuls of history. We remember them, in part, for the declaration they made to the world.
A declaration is an affirmation, a statement of truth. We make declarations every day. The statements we make to ourselves, about ourselves, either build us up or tear us down. They either move us forward or hold us back. Affirmations can serve as a powerful tool for either rewriting or reinforcing our subconscious narrative. Depending on the Truth we speak, this can either aid us in our pursuit of personal growth or hinder us by reinforcing the limiting beliefs that are holding us back from success.
So, how do our declarations hinder our personal growth?
Affirmations can serve as a powerful tool for either rewriting or reinforcing our subconscious narrative. Constantly speaking negatively trains the brain to focus on evidence of failure, disappointment, and lack. This triggers the reticular activating system to ignore the wins and discount the opportunities that present themselves, focusing on all the reasons why you shouldn’t or can’t.
Negative self-talk is strongly linked to anxiety, high stress levels, and an increased risk of depression. They sap the energy needed to take action, leading to procrastination and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. This can also damage your relationships, as it causes you to withdraw from social situations or bring unnecessary tension into them.
There is great power and authority in a declaration. Declarations have the authority of law.
How do you shift from negative to positive?
First, catch the thought. Pay attention to what you’re saying to yourself, not only verbally, but the thoughts you are thinking and focusing your attention on. What you focus on expands. Step one to changing your declaration is becoming intentional about what you’re thinking, because as you think, you say, do, and become.
Secondly, you’ve got to reframe the narrative. Actively replace “I can’t” with “I will figure it out” or “I am capable of learning.” Reframing the narrative starts the process of retraining the brain to see the positive rather than ignoring it. As my friend, Chris Robinson, says, “It’s not that you can’t, but that you won’t, and that choice is yours.” You get to choose your choices, and reframing the narrative is one of those choices.
Third, treat yourself with the same kindness and encouragement you would offer a friend who is going through something similar. Self-care is a term that’s often overused, but you do have to care for your own welfare and well-being. You are worthy and deserving of the same compassion you would extend to a friend, so extend a little bit of grace to yourself.
Fourth, use active gratitude. Focus on what you’re doing right for at least 15 seconds. Celebrate the win in that moment. The act of being grateful, a positive affirmation, trigger the ventral striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, the brain’s reward centers, boosting serotonin and dopamine. This tells the reticular activating system to filter for more of this, as it is rewarding, rewiring the neural pathways of the brain in the process.
For years, the American colonists declared their allegiance to Britain. This reinforced a sense of loyalty, patriotism, and commitment to the Crown. This shaped their view of the world around them, until they came to the realization that the British government was no longer a protector, but a tyrant, and their rights as Englishmen were being systematically destroyed.
This led the Founding Fathers to make a new declaration, a declaration of independence.
So, what is the Declaration of Independence you need to proclaim over your life? The American colonists put their declaration on paper, signed it, and proclaimed it to the world. Perhaps you should consider writing out your own Declaration of Independence?
Perhaps your declaration should sound something like this:
I am free from self-limiting beliefs. I am no longer subject to the “tyrant”, the inner critic, who is constantly telling me that I can’t. I am free from the fear of failure or success because I understand perfection is a myth. I choose this day to focus on improvement, not perfection.
I have the right to my own talents and pursuits. The tyrant of imposter syndrome will no longer limit my belief in myself. I can and I will develop my talent, my skill, and my ability. I will persist until I succeed, and I will repeat that process again and again.
I declare myself free from the need of approval. Societal pressures, social media validation, or the need to please others will no longer drive my decisions. I will create my own life, based on my own standards, governed by my own values, and I will think for myself and no longer mindlessly follow the crowd. I will say “no” to people and causes that drain my energy and do not align with my personal goals and objectives.
I declare myself free from past mistakes or failures. I will let go of the guilt I’ve allowed to define my existence and forgive myself. I will move on from my childish ways, self-centered thinking, and past relationships that only served to limit my personal growth. I am no longer bound by my past, and I will move forward with boldness into the future that awaits.
I proclaim I am free from toxic influences and habits. I sever ties with destructive patterns, toxic people, or unhealthy environments. I remove the people who drain my energy and only bring drama into my life. I declare freedom from procrastination, substances, or an unhealthy lifestyle.
I affirm and declare that I am free to act, even without certainty, rather than waiting for perfect conditions. I will no longer fear the unknown, for it will make itself known to me. I will no longer fear failure, as it is the stepping stone to success. I will get comfortable being uncomfortable, for it is in the uncomfortable and the unfamiliar that growth happens, and I become a better version of who I am and what I can do.
I will challenge the status quo to change things for the better. This is what I believe. This is what I will achieve.
There is great power and authority in a declaration. Declarations have the authority of law.
What are you declaring over your life?
