The Declaration of Independence was biased piece of political propaganda because of the subtle wordings that were used and exaggerated statements of the truth.
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11th and June 28th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was America's notice to the World, and especially King George III of England, of its new found freedom. It is a summary of "self-evident truths" and a list of grievances against the King that set America apart from England forever. Jefferson stated that his purpose was "not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent . . ." (Tindall & Shi pg. 235). .
There are twenty-seven direct statements of propaganda in the Declaration of Independence, all meant to portray King George III as a sinful wicked ruler who intended to establish an absolute tyranny over each colony. Each grievance was a harsh indictment of George III. Thomas Jefferson used negative phrases like, "He has forbidden . . . he has plundered . . . he has refused . . . he has constrained . . ." in the Declaration of Independence. In contrast, the colonists were pictured as patient, submissive, long-suffering citizens. Jefferson used phrases like, "We have petitioned . . . we have warned. . . we have reminded . . . we have appealed . . ." to depict the colonists as the victims in this situation. .
The Declaration of Independence is a propaganda document designed to justify a radical, unprecedented and unlawful action by placing the blame on a wicked king and Parliament. The colonists had done no more than protect their God-given rights. It would be a mistake, however, to dismiss the Declaration as just a propaganda document, it is far more than that. "It is the culmination of more than a century and a half of colonial life, during which the settlers in North America developed their unique notions of government, a process in which they gradually stopped being Englishmen and became Americans.
