The time of the Enlightenment was a
time of great thinkers and reason. Great thinkers of this time were making
grand suggestions and pushing to move past the traditions that hindered
progress. Great thinkers made bold statements, and among those thinkers was
Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson authored a powerful document that changed the
history of thirteen little colonies into what is now known as the United States
of America. The intent of that document, The Declaration of Independence, is
clear in the opening line of this document and is a tribute to the thinking of
the Enlightenment. Jefferson states," When in the course of Human events, it
becomes necessary... to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with
another." How the previous sentence and
the document itself are a product of the Enlightenment movement will be
examined though out this essay.
In the 6th
edition of A Short History of Western
Civilization, the essence of the Enlightenment is captured in one sentence,
"Enlightenment thinkers argued for reform and change" (469). Jefferson used a
key word to open the Declaration of Independence that left no room for doubt:
dissolve. Dissolve is a very direct word. There was to be no connection left
behind concerning the ties with the British. The main drive in the
Enlightenment, as stated earlier, was a desire for progress and a break with
the tradition of the time. Jefferson spared no ink while listing the grievances
the colonies held against the King of England. The actions of the King were a
hindrance, being that the laws were unreasonable and his procedures were not in
the best interest of the people. To cite only a few of the many grievances: the
King refused to agree to laws that would have established a judicial system and
denied what would later be declared a right, which is that of a trial by jury.
Reason alone tells one that such actions are of no benefit but to a select few.
The use of such reason was another crucial component of the Enlightenment.
Breaking
with tradition was a way to allow progress, but also a means to usher in the
use of reason. Tradition accepts the
status quo and does not provide answers when new questions arise that are
outside the traditional mold of thought. Harrison, Sullivan, and Sherman advise
that reason employs the senses and assesses truth by what can be interpreted
from those senses. When it is observed that the current system of government is
no longer protecting its citizens but is a destructive force, reason denies tradition.
When tradition is denied and reason begins to rely of the senses to establish
truth, nature becomes the guiding light. Harrison, Sullivan, and Sherman state
as such," Nature is ordered, functions reasonably, and constitutes a standard
for judgment." Jefferson turns to nature as he lays the foundation for the
Declaration of Independence.
Deism
became popular in the time of the Enlightenment, as the drive to break with
tradition flowed into the church. According to the Dictionary of Christianity in America, Deism believed "God revealed
himself in nature and through reason." Jefferson talks about laws of nature and
self-evident truths, and both ideas fall in line with a Deistic way of
thinking. He states that all men are created equal and endowed by their creator
with rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights prevail
when one uses reason to interpret nature. Life begins in nature and is a
process of nature. Without nature life does not exist. God created all life and
it roams free. Why should that same liberty not be bestowed on humankind? This
may not have been the thinking used when the Declaration of Independence was
written. It is an attempt to understand how the thinking may have been used. Reason
is the Deist's companion and mentor. Jefferson appears to have used Deism as guide
when founding the principles upon which the United States would be built.
Three
major concepts, reason, nature, and change and progress, were used when the
Declaration of Independence was authored, and were embodied in the
Enlightenment. These concepts are not to be exclusive of other influences or
ideas that may have been considered. In his writing, Thomas Jefferson
illustrates clear examples of all three concepts. Progress and change can be
seen in many places. The idea of declaring independence, in itself, seeks a
change from tradition and a want to move forward. Dissatisfaction with the
status quo developed the need for progress away from a system that had failed
the colonies. Reason was utilized in assessing the situation of oppression that
had fallen upon the people and developed the need for change. The list of
grievances against the King demonstrates the reason used in making the decision
to become an independent nation. Nature was the foundation of the document
Jefferson penned. Deism relied on nature to reveal the self-evident truths, the
rights God bestowed upon his creation, which he desires for his creation to
enjoy. The government Jefferson describes, and the Declaration of Independence
as a whole is a product of the Enlightenment and the way of thinking that came
out in that time.
