In honor of Independence Day I wanted to select a book that describes the history surrounding the Declaration of Independence. When I saw the title of this book I thought it would be a good book to start my July study on the Declaration of Independence.
Maier begins her book by describing the preservation efforts at maintaining the Declaration of Independence. Then she notes “The original signed texts of the Declaration of Independence and to a lesser extent the Constitution have become for the United States what Lenin’s body was for the Soviet Union a tangible remnant of the revolution to which its children can still cling.”
Throughout the book Maier downplays the significance of the Declaration of Independence noting that there were 90 such declarations at state or local levels from the spring of 1776 through July 1776. This was foreshadowed in her introduction where she noted:
“I dismissed the suggestion that I write a modern history of the Declaration of Independence. There’s already too much written on the subject I remember saying and I have no particular interest in adding to the pile. I also thought that the document had been hyped out of all proportion to what was justified and that more attention would only exacerbate the problem.”
Maier notes that her book “tells two different but related stories - that of the original making of the Declaration of Independence and that of its remaking into the document most Americans know, remember, and revere.”
After finishing this book I was left with the impression that Maier viewed the Declaration of Independence as a run of the mill document created in the normal course of business for a congressional body. It was not unique because it was based off of other historical documents. Jefferson was not the sole author but the congress as a whole. Jefferson and Adams were just ordinary people who happened to live in a time where they could achieve a greatness that otherwise they were undeserving. The Declaration of Independence has only gained notoriety to win political support, with Abraham Lincoln being one of the most successful politicians to do so.
Maier writes a well researched book that contains a wealth of information but I don’t agree with her conclusions. Overall I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.
Great literature should do more than entertain us. It should provide a roadmap to improving our lives.
In A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens introduced readers to Sydney Carton, one of literature's most compelling and deeply flawed characters. Dickens also gives him an unusual title: the Jackal.
His struggles raise questions that remain relevant today.
Are we defined by our past mistakes? Can we overcome our weaknesses? What separates the people we are from the people we could become?
Lessons From the Jackal is a 25-day character study exploring these questions through Sydney Carton’s life, decisions, relationships, and personal development.
This is not a traditional course on A Tale of Two Cities. Our reading assignments will focus specifically on Carton, with sufficient background provided to understand his story. No previous knowledge of the novel is necessary.
Each day will feature selected readings, historical comparisons, reflection questions, discussions, and practical challenges ...
In 1781, London’s Inner Temple was one of England’s four Inns of Court, institutions responsible for admitting and training barristers. Situated near the River Thames, between Fleet Street and the river, the Inner Temple had been associated with the English legal profession for centuries.
Its origins date to the medieval period, when the Knights Templar occupied land in this part of London. Following the dissolution of the order in the early fourteenth century, the area gradually developed into a center of legal education and professional activity.
By the eighteenth century, the Inner Temple was an established community of barristers, legal students, and experienced members of the profession. Its grounds contained chambers where lawyers could work, residential accommodations, a hall for communal dining, and the historic Temple Church.
For an ambitious young man, admission to the Inner Temple represented an opportunity to enter a respected profession. Students studied legal texts, observed court proceedings, and developed ...
“You’ve been at Doctor Manette’s house as much as I have, or more than I have. Why, I have been ashamed of your moroseness there! Your manners have been of that silent and sullen and hangdog kind, that, upon my life and soul, I have been ashamed of you, Sydney!”
