What Did the Declaration Declare?
Published on 15. May 1999
Book
Paperback/Softback
120 pages
978-0-312-19063-7 (ISBN)
Description
An enduring mythology has grown up around the Declaration of Independence. Generations of Americans believe that Jefferson wrote it in his Philadelphia study, influenced only by the stirring of great events around him. Challenging this romantic ideal, the five historians included here find that the document was the result of many influences, and that it may have even been a collaborative writing effort on the congressional floor. Investigating various angles of the argument, the authors pose a variety of opinions on the Declaration's authorship, influences, and ultimate impact.
Reviews / Votes
'Few historians are more adept at presenting complex ideas clearly and concisely than Joseph Ellis. His brief introduction compresses a great deal of information and analysis into a few pages. Ellis shows wisdom in providing enough context...to draw students into the inquiry.' - Susan Curtis, Purdue UniversityMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York, NY
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
Weight
187 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-312-19063-7 (9780312190637)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
JOSEPH J.ELLIS is the Ford Foundation Professor of History at Mount Holyoke College. He has written several books including, in 1997, the one that won the National Book Award for nonfiction.
Content
Foreword Preface A Note for Students PART I: THE DOCUMENT The Declaration of Independence Jefferson's Draft with Revisions PART II: INTRODUCTION The Enduring Influence of the Declaration The Declaration as Mythology and History Historians and the Declaration PART III: SOME CURRENT QUESTIONS What was Jefferson's Role in the Drafting of the Declaration?; D.Malone Is the Philosophy of the Declaration Lockean?; C.Becker Or was Jefferson More Influenced by Scottish thinkers?; G.Wills What was the Cast of Jefferson's Mind?; J.J.Ellis How much did the Continental Congress Shape the Declaration?; P.Maier Making Connections Suggestions for Further Reading