Character analysis
The American People (Colonists)
in The Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson
The American People, or Colonists, are both the subject and the audience of the Declaration of Independence, serving as its moral authority. They play a dual role: as the wronged party whose hardships justify the document's revolutionary stance, and as the collective sovereign on whose behalf independence is declared. Their journey shifts from loyal subjects facing ongoing abuses to a united group driven by reason and conscience to break away from Britain. The Declaration begins by asserting their right to "assume among the powers of the earth" a separate and equal status—depicting their actions not as rebellion but as a natural and obvious necessity. The document details their specific grievances: taxation without representation, forced housing of soldiers, denial of justice, and war waged against them by their king. Each grievance is presented as a shared experience ("He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts"), creating a comprehensive picture of a patient people who made repeated appeals, only to face more tyranny. Their defining characteristics include enduring patience, rational thought, and a principled dedication to self-governance grounded in Enlightenment ideals. The closing section shifts their identity from victims to active participants: the "Representatives of the united States," speaking for the people, commit "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." Thus, the American People emerge not as passive sufferers but as the true source of political legitimacy—the foundation upon which the entire argument rests.
Connected characters
- Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson is the primary drafter who gives the American People their collective voice. He translates their lived grievances into philosophical and legal language, casting their suffering as universal proof of tyranny and their resistance as a fulfillment of natural law.
- King George III
King George III is the chief antagonist of the American People. The Declaration's lengthy bill of particulars—covering legislative obstruction, military aggression, and denial of justice—frames him as the direct author of their oppression and the reason separation is morally unavoidable.
- The British Parliament
Parliament is indicted alongside the Crown as a co-oppressor. The Declaration accuses it of legislating for the colonies 'in all cases whatsoever,' denying the American People the representative governance they consider a birthright.
- Benjamin Franklin
Franklin, as a senior member of the Committee of Five, helps shape the document that speaks for the American People, lending it the credibility of the colonies' most internationally recognized statesman.
- John Adams
Adams is a key advocate for the American People's cause in Congress, championing independence and helping ensure the Declaration reflects the broad colonial consensus for separation.
- Roger Sherman
Sherman serves on the Committee of Five, representing the American People's interests in refining the Declaration's language and ensuring it could command unified colonial support.
- Robert R. Livingston
Livingston is the fifth member of the drafting committee, contributing to the collective effort to articulate the American People's grievances and aspirations in a form suitable for the world stage.