What does the Declaration of Independance mean? Read the Declaration of Independence. What is the core of Jefferson's argument with the British? How does his argument expressed both in the Declaration and in some of his other writings that you may find in Voices of Liberty, relate to the concerns expressed by the North Carolina Regulators, the New York Sons of Liberty, Thomas Paine's or James Chalmers?George Washington, Jefferson and many of the signers of the Declaration were slave owners. Compare and contrast his and his contemporaries ideas of "all men are created equal" and have the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" with Abigail Adams, Noah Webster's, Alexander Hamilton's, the letter by "Watchman," the petitions by slaves and other voices you have heard.What are the meanings of freedom that are being expressed? Are there contradictions? How do they the speakers of the voices try to reconcile them?