The
following info looks at the Declaration
of Independence (1776) and the Articles
of Confederation (1781) from the angles of union and religion.
- Declaration of Independence:
(4th July 1776)
-“nation” is not
mentioned
-“country” is
mentioned once, “He has
constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms
against their Country, to become the
executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their
Hands.”
-It is twice stated, “united States”
and once, “United Colonies”.
-“States” mentioned (10)
“Independent States” (3)
-“Nature’s God” (1); “protection of
divine Providence” (1)
- Articles of
Confederation
(1st March, 1781)
- no “country” or
“nation”
-“state” or
“States” (142)
-“Independence”
(3): only twice in respect of “America”
-“sovereignty” of
the states (1)
-no mention of God
or providence
-“Year of our
Lord”
From this info, I think it is safer to conclude that
the 13 colonies/states were more akin to small nations that had united- such as
in the European Union, or in the United Nations- against a common foe. The
colonies/states declared their independence together, and then agreed upon a
common union (confederation) to support one another, and to work with one
another on certain levels only. Even so, the states were sovereign. When the
documents refer to “America” or to “country” (as in the Declaration), I think it more likely that they are referring to a confederate
form of the States and confederate country. In the Articles, religion plays no part, and the value of God for
government is not acknowledged. In the Declaration,
God is valued only inasmuch as he has given certain laws and rights. These
rights are encapsulated in the Declaration,
with the prayer that Divine
Providence would protect them. Therefore, in regard to religion, the Declaration is law-centered, and by extension,
man-centered, with no true recognition of God’s glory as God.
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