On this 4th of July, we are a divided nation. Neither side’s talking points have changed significantly, and shouting them at each other has only brought pain. Last night, seeking to understand the original context, I read the Declaration of Independence.
A 10-Minute Read That Changed My Perspective on Independence
People, it’s approximately 1,320 words (for reference, an online article, for example, is generally between 700 and 5,000 words). So it’s a 10-minute commitment. I have read excerpts throughout my lifetime, but never the work in its entirety.
I didn’t go in looking to be convinced one way or the other; I went in curious. And that, I think, is part of our problem: we often seek to “win” an argument rather than understand what conditions gave rise to it in the first place. Curiosity doesn’t end debates, but it does lower the volume.
Spoiler alert: it won’t resolve today’s issues. It is a document at a point in time that had its own context.
Echoes of the Past: Then vs. Now
But here’s the interesting thing if you read it with an open mind…
…Reading it, you will see commonalities among what both of today’s parties have to say. So as much as it pains most of us to admit, the truth (and further, a solution) must lie somewhere in the middle.
What surprised me were the echoes. Complaints about centralized power, lack of representation, manipulation of laws—these themes haven’t disappeared. They’ve evolved. The left and the right may frame their frustrations differently, but many originate from the same human need: to feel heard, safe, and empowered.
How I Used ChatGPT to Understand the Declaration More Deeply
I have a love / hate relationship with ChtGPT. I think it could be the death to some original thinking and it’s causing an overwhelming amount of banal articles to be published. [I won’t even go there with the risk to many people’s jobs, including my own].
What I love to use it for is to analyze things that would require combing large volumes of information. You have to check the sources, of course, but as long as you do that, it can be so useful and enlightening.
I took several of the grievances listed in the original document and asked for historical context from ChatGPT– what was happening in 1776 to make them feel that way? Some of them are well-taught, others were new for me.
I attempted, and I believe I was successful, to ask questions in a way that neither confirmed nor refuted my personal point of view.
This is a revised edit of some of my ChatGPT prompts that you may find useful for your own understanding:
- Prompt 1: This line is from the Declaration of Independence. Please explain its historical context. [INSERT COLONISTS’ GRIEVANCE]
- Prompt 2: Have there been any updates to US policy on this issue since 1776? Please explain
- Prompt 3: Please create a visual timeline of the grievance and policy changes over time
There have been several policy changes over the past 300+ years and it was a fascinating exercise. You find that we flip flop on a lot of these things over time (and why that may be and who that may effect).
I learned a lot. I didn’t resolve anything, I just understand more. I’ve chosen not to share what I learned because I’m not trying to be political. I wanted to share the process, though for anyone interested in history or rationalizing what’s going on today in the U.S.
Below are some other prompts and more information if you want to dig into the history – virtually or via travel.
Additional Prompts to Explore More with ChatGPT
Just for fun, I asked ChatGPT to suggest further prompts. Here’s what it came up with, and the last one, in particular, should cause hours worth of rabbit holes to dive into:
- “What were the lesser-known grievances in the Declaration of Independence and their significance?”
- “Compare the Declaration of Independence to other global independence movements.”
- “Explain how the grievances evolved into later American laws or court cases.”
- “Which parts of the Declaration are still cited in modern political debates?”
- “Create a dialogue between a modern American and a Founding Father about liberty.”
We celebrate independence with fireworks and flags. But maybe true patriotism is less about spectacle and more about study. Less about taking sides and more about taking time. Time to understand where we came from, and what from the past still deserves a place in our future.
Wishing you life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness above all in 2025 and beyond.
Chrissy
Further Reading & Resources
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