MAKING OF A NEW NATION 1776 1800
THOMAS JEFFERSON
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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fear of British reprisal
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the need to appease various political factions
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the hope of confusing Tory spies
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the need to improve its grammar and style
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Detailed explanation-1: -Adams and Franklin had made only a few changes before the committee submitted the document. The discussion in Congress resulted in some alterations and deletions, but the basic document remained Jefferson’s.
Detailed explanation-2: -It was used as an announcement of a new nation’s founding, as a diplomatic appeal for recognition, as a statement of political philosophy and as a call to defend liberty at home and abroad. Today, as our democracy comes under pressure at home and from hostile actors abroad, the Declaration is as relevant as ever.
Detailed explanation-3: -Written in June 1776, Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence, included eighty-six changes made later by John Adams (1735–1826), Benjamin Franklin 1706–1790), other members of the committee appointed to draft the document, and by Congress.
Detailed explanation-4: -The Congress made more substantial changes, deleting a condemnation of the British people, a reference to “Scotch & foreign mercenaries” (there were Scots in the Congress), and a denunciation of the African slave trade (this being offensive to some Southern and New England delegates).