The Declaration of Independence states the desire of the colonies to separate from Great Britain. It also gives an extensive list of the reasons why the colonists believe this to be necessary. However, throughout this explanation, the Declaration claims to express the will of the "people." The question that is left unanswered in the Declaration is who the "people," or the "men" are supposed to be. The attempted answers to this question have had enormous implications for the social and political reality of the country.