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In the early 1770s, more and more colonists became convinced that Parliament intended to take away their freedom. In fact, the Americans saw a pattern of increasing oppression and corruption happening all around the world. Parliament was determined to bring its unruly American subjects to heel. Britain began to prepare for war in early 1775. The first fighting broke out in April in Massachusetts. In August, the King declared the colonists “in a state of open and avowed rebellion.” For the first time, many colonists began to seriously consider cutting ties with Britain. The publication of Thomas Paine’s stirring pamphlet Common Sense in early 1776 lit a fire under this previously unthinkable idea. The movement for independence was now in full swing. Choosing IndependenceThe colonists elected delegates to attend a Continental Congress that eventually became the governing body of the union during the Revolution. Its second meeting convened in Philadelphia in 1775. The delegates to Congress adopted strict rules of secrecy to protect the cause of American liberty and their own lives. In less than a year, most of the delegates abandoned hope of reconciliation with Britain. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution “that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states.” They appointed a Committee of Five to write an announcement explaining the reasons for independence. Thomas Jefferson, who chaired the committee and had established himself as a bold and talented political writer, wrote the first draft. Writing the DeclarationOn June 11, 1776, Jefferson holed up in his Philadelphia boarding house and began to write. He borrowed freely from existing documents like the Virginia Declaration of Rights and incorporated accepted ideals of the Enlightenment. Jefferson later explained that “he was not striving for originality of principal or sentiment.” Instead, he hoped his words served as an “expression of the American mind.” Less than three weeks after he’d begun, he presented his draft to Congress. He was not pleased when Congress “mangled” his composition by cutting and changing much of his carefully chosen wording. He was especially sorry they removed the part blaming King George III for the slave trade, although he knew the time wasn’t right to deal with the issue. Declaring IndependenceOn July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence. Two days later, it ratified the text of the Declaration. John Dunlap, official printer to Congress, worked through the night to set the Declaration in type and print approximately 200 copies. These copies, known as the Dunlap Broadsides, were sent to various committees, assemblies, and commanders of the Continental troops. The Dunlap Broadsides weren’t signed, but John Hancock’s name appears in large type at the bottom. One copy crossed the Atlantic, reaching King George III months later. The official British response scolded the “misguided Americans” and “their extravagant and inadmissable Claim of Independency”. What Does it Say? How Was it Made? Watch Genevieve White outline the events which led to the American Declaration of Independence.
The American Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 by one of the Founding Fathers of the USA, Thomas Jefferson, who later became President. Why was the Declaration of Independence written? Well in the 18th century, the colonists, that is, the people who had gone to live and settle in the USA were pretty unhappy. There were unhappy because they were being ruled over by British King, George III. Laws were being passed in Britain, which affected their lives. However, the colonists had no representation in England. And they had no one to speak up for them when laws were being passed. As a result, they had to put up with paying taxes that they had not agreed to.
They were also subject to laws which cut them off from doing trade with other parts of the world. So what was written in the Declaration of Independence? Well, part of it is a detailed list of complaints against King George. The American Declaration of Independence also states that all men are created equal. And there are certain rights that governments and kings should never violate. These rights include the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When leaders fail to protect those rights, it is not only the right but also the duty of the people to overthrow those leaders. The American colonists wanted to have their own government based on democratic ideals. Does any of this sound familiar?
The American Declaration of Independence drew much of its inspiration from Magna Carta. For the colonies, Magna Carta was a symbol of freedom and of a fair and democratic government.
Listen to Genevieve talking about the events which led to the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.
This is possibly the most famous line from the American Declaration of Independence. In this part of the Declaration, the colonists state that revolution is justified when a government goes against human rights. The Declaration argues that all people are equal in the eyes of God and that everyone is entitled to live freely. The Declaration goes on to list specific complaints which the American colonists had against the British government, and concludes by declaring the 13 British colonies on the east coast of North America independent.
Please share your knowledge with other learners on the course. In the next step, you are going to read a modern day version of the American Declaration of Independence. July 01, 2020 Did you know that the United States of America is 150 years older than Concordia University Texas? Independence Day, or commonly known as July 4th, is a national celebration of when the American colonies (soon-to-be United States of America) declared independence from Great Britain. The timeline of events leading to the creation and adoption of the Declaration of Independence — the founding document upon which the country was built — were wrought with hardship, war and sacrifice. The result? The United States of America, a nation of incredible opportunity for every citizen. Read the Declaration of Independence. 1763-1765: Taxing the ColoniesBefore the United States of America formed in 1776, the 13 colonies were ruled by Great Britain. After defeating France in the French and Indian War in 1763, the British government began imposing new taxes on the American colonies to recoup the expenses of the war. The Sugar Act of 1764 imposed duties on all imported refined sugar and molasses from non-British Caribbean sources (not so sweet). The British government then attempted to directly tax the colonists through the Stamp Act of 1765, which required all legal documents and printed materials to have a stamp that could only be retrieved by paying tax. Colonists rebelled against the tax, refusing to get their documents stamped, burning the stamps and trying to intimidate the stamp distributors. Tensions, already present, began to grow. 1767-1773: Continued HostilityThe British Parliament passed the Townshend Acts in 1767, through which they tried to exert authority over the colonies by suspending assemblies of colonials who didn't cooperate and enforcing the collection of revenue duties. Colonists once again resisted, often resulting in violence, evasion of the duties and more. In response to the hostility, Great Britain sent more regiments of the British Army to Boston. In 1770, a group of British army soldiers were threatened and taunted by a mob of colonials in Boston; they opened fire and killed five people. The incident is known as the Boston Massacre, and John Adams (future U.S. president) successfully defended the British soldiers, resulting in acquittals and reduced sentences. Great Britain then imposed the Tea Act of 1773, which had two sly purposes. First, they wanted to help the struggling British East India Tea Company; they would allow the company to export tea directly to the colonies and impose the Townshend tax on colonists, thereby relieving much financial strain and allowing them to sell the tea for less money. Second, because colonists would be willing to pay for cheaper tea, they would purchase tea from the British East India Tea Company and legitimize the British Parliament's taxation of the colonies. In December 1773, in protest of taxation without representation in British Parliament, colonists in Boston disguised as Mohawk North American Indians boarded ships and dumped tea from the British East India Company into the Boston Harbor, brewing greater tension. 1774: Continental Congress Established Great Britain responded to the colonists' hostility with the Intolerable (or Coercive) Acts, which were formed to punish Massachusetts and dissuade other colonies from rebelling.
From September to October 1774, the First Continental Congress, represented by delegates from all colonies except Georgia, met and called for colonists to boycott all British goods. 1775-1776: The Call for IndependenceMany colonists believed that war with Great Britain was inevitable and encouraged the pursuit of complete independence. In March 1775, Patrick Henry, a founding father, delivered his famous speech to the Second Virginia Convention, stating, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" Less than one month later, the Battles of Lexington and Concord sparked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The Second Continental Congress convened, functioning as a national government, to form armies and strategize. At the beginning of 1776, Thomas Paine, an English-born American patriot, published his pamphlet Common Sense, which encouraged colonists to strive for independence from Great Britain. It is credited for paving the way for the Declaration of Independence and convincing many colonists to support independence. July 4, 1776On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Lee Resolution, voting for independence from Britain. On July 4, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which was first drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited to the final version by the Congress. George Washington, a founding father, led the United States to victory, and on September 3, 1783, the war ended with the Treaty of Paris, in which Britain officially recognized the independence of the United States.
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What events led to the Declaration of Independence
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