Writing the Declaration of Independence

Jefferson, was given the task of writing the Declaration because as Adams said, "You can write ten times better than I can."

His ideas for the Declaration were borrowed form ancient Greeks and Romans, John Locke, and recent sermons. It took him two weeks to write the draft with others dropping by to give support and suggestions.

Then Congress began editing Jefferson's draft. He "winced" at every change, some for content and others for style. They deleted 630 words and added 146 leaving a document of 1322 words.

Carol,

Aw Phooey! They did it without us--how did they do it?

I also think it shows writers often don't get it right the first time, critics have always been there, and even the great writers have been edited and had to rewrite.

It gives me encouragement as well as respect for those who didn't give up.

I have been studying people who write history books, known history books. One didn't even have a bachelor's degree, another was a financial analyst, and another who won the Pulitzer Prize was considered a "self-made historian." So now I just need to improve the writing skills and I'll have a chance of joining them, not my hero Jefferson or the Pulitzer Prize winner, but perhaps one of them in a very little way.

I love Thomas Jefferson. He is one of my favorite historic figures and we need to honor him on these first days in July. Many thought the celebration of our country would be July 2nd, as that was the day of the decision to break from England.

And now we are friends with those in the country that once ruled us. That is a good thing.

Carol

Aw Phooey, Now you are getting me wired up--I want the Pulitzer prize though.

I will leave the NYT bestseller for you.

It is a very good thing we are friends with the Brits

My grandchildren are dual citizens.

x

x

I have turned against him, Jefferson.

I don't like Adams' mediocre writing.

How about Ben Franklini?

x

I don't know.

I love Abigail's writing.

You are right Lane. I knew that about Thomas. I like his brilliance and his pondering so many of the issues of the day. These people become real in their indecision, errors, missteps. Paths were not smooth and people were not perfect.

Carol

x

Lane, I didn't think you were criticizing me. I just didn't think you understood that I knew Jefferson wasn't perfect. I like his intelligence, his pondering, his even being dichotomous. No one has to be perfect for me to admire him or her. I like all sorts of imperfect people, founding fathers, Presidents, etc.

Carol

The best part was they used that yellow crinkly stuff.

The fact is folks, that the world was a much different place back then, and we cannot judge people of that time as being wrong by today's standards. True, Jefferson owned slaves, so did a lot of people, but then it was completely legal. What we see as wrong today we want to say was wrong then, but by the standards of the day it wasn't. BTW, a lot of people then thought the answer was to send blacks back to their country of origin, or to some island that might take them.

Reading history teaches us that none of the men that did so much to shape our country were perfect. Had they been, they might have come up with a better way to govern. As it is, we have what I think is the best system the world has ever seen, and we can thank those imperfect men, including Jefferson and Adams, for laying the foundation of this country.

E. Don,

W. Lane Rogers wrote:

Alice wrote:

How about Ben Franklini?

Shame on you, Alice. You missed the pun.

I am laughing so hard I am crying.
I am very dense--took me awhile to see the i

Funny man, Lane.

Carol,

I am very glad that you like and admire Thomas Jefferson.

Permit me to rejoice that you
never had to meet, marry or converse with him.

Trust me when I say it wouldn't have gone well.

Love ya,

Alice

I liked the Thomas Jefferson at Williamsburg. My son-in-law says he has a radio show on once a week. I could have conversed with that man for hours.

I like him so much because I am as dichotomous as he was, changing my mind as many times as I changed my wardrobe.

Lane will pounce on me for this one, but I think he loved Sally. Think about it. Sometimes what is most forbidden has attraction. Sometimes we have silly rules at one time in history that are changed in later years.

As far as his other transgressions, at least we didn't have to endure watching him on TV with the details.

Carol

x

I agreed with you from the very beginning and the Adams comments are very interesting.

I reread my statements and I agreed over and over. The only difference was I liked the guy—warts, dichotomy, transgressions and all.

I respect your opinions. I often agreed with your opinions, and once again my choice of the word "pounce" was a mistake. I am sorry.

Carol