Explaining the American Declaration of Independence

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Dear Student,
Hello and thank you for using Brainmass. I know that throughout your studies, you have become quite familiar with the American Declaration of Independence therefore I shall not include an overly long description of the historical setting from which the document was born. The solution below does as you ask - summarized key points of the 4 sections of the document as concisely as possible. Should you have any questions, please feel free to leave it in the feedback section of this solution. Good luck!

Sincerely,
OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
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A Quick Background

Considered as the Founding Document of the American Nation as well as the primary document expressing the reasons behind the separation from the British Crown, it was a Unanimously Agreed set of ideas that the Second Continental Congress & by virtue all US Colonies put in pen & paper in July 4, 1776 declaring America a 'Free & Independent State' (The draft having been written June11-28 of the same year by Thomas Jefferson). Every American alludes to the ideas in the Declaration when referring to their American Identity especially the Lockean notion of 'All Men Created Equal'. President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address refers to this very heart of the birth of the nation whereby the Signatories, the Founding Fathers signed the Final Draft of the Declaration worked on together by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, George Sherman & Henry Lee, all representatives and leaders of their own counties & colonial territories knew that by doing so, they would all be judged and hanged for treason against the absolutist British Crown. A reading of, as well as an understanding of the ideas espoused by the declaration: simple, eloquent and truthful as to the rights & responsibilities of a Free American Nation, though rooted in ideas of Republicanism echoes that which has always been what being an American is all about ever since the birth of the nation --- the pursuit of Life, Liberty, Property & Happiness under the guidance of Justice & Equality. How then are these ideals and ideas expressed in the 4 sections of the declaration? Let's see -

Section 1: An excerpt

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, 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 entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

In this section, a sort of introduction and affirmation of the 'Natural Law' (a theory of common law whereby judgement is seen as accorded and embedded upon all men, especially in ...