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 "America
             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,
             The Oxford English Dictionary defines power as, "the ability
             to do or effect something or anything, or to act upon a person or
             thing" (OED 2536). 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, "With all thair
             strang *poweir" (OED 2536) Nearly three hundred years later in 1785
             the word power carried the same meaning of control, strength, and
             force, "power to produce an effect, supposes power not to produce it;
             otherwise it is not power but necessity" (OED 2536). This definition
             explains how the power government or social institutions rests in
             their ability to command people, rocks, colonies to do something they
             otherwise would not do. To make the people pay taxes. To make the
             rocks form into a fence. To make the colonists honor the King. The
             colonialists adopt this interpretation of power. They see power as a
             cruel force that has wedded them to a King who has "a history of
             ...