Purpose and Contradiction: A Reexamination of Howard Mumford Jones' Critique of the Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence2 can be divided into five distinct sections according to Stephen Lucas's “The Stylistic Artistry of” Declaration of Independence.”3 These sections are the introduction, the preamble, the indictment section, the “Complaint of the British People” and the conclusion3. According to Howard Mumford Jones, a well-known scholar and author on American history, the document may be invalidated by a lack of evidence and outrageous claims. Jones believes that the Declaration of Independence is “firm in structure and laconic in expression.”1 (Jones 3) In further explanation of the Declaration of Independence, this view of the Declaration of Independence further explains the “Denunciation of the British people” where Jefferson states: “We must therefore accept the necessity that denounces our separation, and consider them, as we consider the rest of mankind, enemies in war, friends in peace”2 (Jefferson) The Declaration of Independence inspired the change necessary to create an international community less monopolized, where the state can operate independently without fear of tyranny. Although Thomas Jefferson is the noted author of the Declaration, he was chosen simply for his literacy skills, which far surpassed the respective abilities of his colleagues. However, the document has been modified by a series of politicians, with revolutionary intent rather than empirical evidence. The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to start a revolution, opening the world's eyes to the fact that they no longer had to give in to the English and that fighting oppression was a possibility, no matter how unlikely the battle. “inalienable rights” that many still do not have in 2015 and while Jones criticizes the document based on its lack of evidence and overcompensation of how many rights may truly be inalienable, the purpose of this document is overlooked in Jones' criticism. The purpose of this document was to spark a social and political revolution, leading the colonies out of oppression and into a brighter future where the people can win. History shows that since the Declaration of Independence was published, we have created great changes and opened doors to many other countries, people and minority populations with the ideas and even some of the same language as this country.