Intention

The main intentions behind “The Declaration of Independence” were for the thirteen North American colonies to make a formal announcement of separation from Great Britain and to explain the reasoning behind the separation. These intentions are announced from the first lines of the document: “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” (ll. 10-12)

The intention behind the opening paragraphs of the Declaration – also known as the Preamble – are to lay down the principles of government which served as a basis for the colonies to declare independence. To give legitimacy to the demands of the colonies, the authors appeal to the ethos conferred by natural, God-given rights: “…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…” (ll. 7-10). Furthermore, they also appeal to the logos (logic) of the governing principles: “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…” (ll. 19-21)

The first part of the Declaration is...