There are many abstractions in the Declaration of Independence. These abstractions such as: rights, freedom, liberty and happiness have become the foundations of American society and have helped to shape the "American Identity." Power, another abstraction that reoccurs in all the major parts of the Declaration of Independence plays an equally important role in shaping "American Identity." One forgets the abstraction of power, because it appears in relation to other institutions: the legislature, the King, the earth, and the military. The abstraction of power sets the tone of the Declaration, and shapes the colonists conception of government and society. Power in the Declaration of Independence flows from distinct bodies within society such as the King, the legislature, the military, and the colonists.

The English Dictionary defines power as, "the ability to do or effect something or anything, or to act upon a person or thing". Throughout the ages according to the dictionary the word power has connoted similar meanings. In 1470 the word power meant to have strength and the ability to do something. Nearly three hundred years later in 1785 the word power carried the same meani

The colonist's meaning of the word power changes depending on who possesses the power. In the hands of the King power corrupts, in the hands of the colonists and people it takes on divine qualities. The colonist's analysis of who has power fascinates. The colonists believe power to be a force that emanates from fixed points in society. In contrast more modern thinkers such as Nietzche and Foucault believe power flows throughout all of society. The colonists perceive, in England power emanates directly from the King. Because of this interpretation they blame the King for the many wrongs they list in the body of the Declaration of Independence. The colonists do not blame the people of England or the English Legislature. This allows the tone of the Declaration of Independence to soften. Instead, of being an attack on the institutions of English society, the Declaration only attacks the King, the holder of power. Foucault's interpretation of power would differ sharply from the framers of the Declaration of Independence. Foucault sees power as coming from the many technologies that society uses to control people: tax systems the law, patriarchy, family systems, legislatures, and even democracy. These technologies according to Foucault all represent different ways in which society controls its members (Foucault 307). The King, under Foucault's interpretation of power bares little responsibility for the grievance colonists have with England. The King in his view plays merely a role in the web of different technologies of control. Foucault would see the King as being controlled by many of the forces in society. Fulfilling his role is not so much his manifestation of his power as the power of English society and its ability to control the colonies and their inhabitants. If the colonists when writing the Declaration of Independence had this conception of power in mind then, t

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Approximate Word count = 1277
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)