What does the Declaration of Independence say people have a right to do if a government is destructive of their rights? Is this true today? Why or why not?

Answer 1

This is a good question, Alex, especially when thinking about how divided our government and people have been lately.

The Declaration of Independence says "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

So now the question is asking - Do you think this is still true today? If the American people came to believe that the federal government was destroying their rights, would we still be able to alter or abolish it? So you have to ask yourself, what does it mean to "alter" or "abolish" it? Altering it would most likely mean to change it in major ways! To abolish it, of course, would mean to have a new revolution!

Think about the ways things might be similar between the time of the founding fathers and today. What were the founding fathers trying to do with the Declaration of Independence? Why were they so angry with England? And why did they believe the only option was to abolish that government and, in its place, create a new kind of government? That is a pretty dramatic action to take! Do you think that would be necessary or helpful to do today?

If you need some more help thinking about this question, please reach out to me. I am happy to help!