Melaku Michael Essay: Thomas Jefferson Plagiarism. Many people today believe that many of our written constitutions have been plagiarized one time or another in its history of being in American History. Some of these accusations have been proved to be wrong while other seemingly prove a good point, such point in example is the George Mason and very well known Thomas Jefferson. Although this plagiarism at this time was not recognized at is it today this case was not known until a history teacher in Georgia realized that the two have one special document that has had a serious impact and fulfillment in American history has been plagiarized. As this statement shook many people into thinking what else is plagiarized in U.S history other say that Thomas Jefferson merely took an Idea of one person and did not state any acknowledgements to the writer, which many have just stated to be exactly as plagiarism. This case has been going on for many years and has had a permanent mark on the history of America and its works as a whole. I will further on discuss how this document has been thought of and to what extant has it been plagiarized. And also the fact that many believe the original document or what was considered to be the original document that Thomas Jefferson plagiarized was actually ever existent thus freeing Thomas Jefferson of any Plagiarism accusation. The Virginia Declaration of Rights by George Mason states that “That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their
posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.” But if you notice a similarity in the second part of the declaration that states by Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Notice the Similarities they both basically rephrase the documents. This leads to the speculation that Thomas Jefferson did in some way plagiarize his statement. Though many believe that Thomas Jefferson has single handedly plagiarized the Declaration of independence many to also believe that the document that he was supposedly using as a main source in the Declaration of Independence has never existed this is what one governmental historian says about the existence of this document.” The first time a text of the document appeared was in 1800, fifteen years after the alleged 1775 creation, when it was written down by someone who claimed to remember it from memory. The absence of a contemporary record is suspicious. The citizens of the county of Mecklenburg did indeed express patriotic fervor early on. In May 31, 1775 they barred loyal British workers from employment. But the passage of a formal declaration of independence would have been a far more serious matter”. This shows us that many to believe that Thomas Jefferson has not publically plagiarized the document. Will this case is still an ongoing debacle many try to see and figure the historical accuracy of the “original” Declaration of Independence and to free Thomas Jefferson’s name.