Hayley Turner

ELED 3223-003
The Declaration of Independence

Introduction
The Declaration of Independence is a major topic that is taught in schools starting at the
elementary level (Common Core Essential Standards). Every student who is globally aware
needs to know the specific events that lead to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Every student should also have a good foundation of how America got its freedom from Great
Britain, regardless if you live in another country. I believe that all over the world students should
be culturally aware of what has happened in this nations past. There are multiple perspectives
that can be explored while teaching and learning about the Declaration of Independence.
Perspectives that can be explored could be from the British colonies, King George III, Second
Continental congress, and North Americans side for independence. Reasons for the French and
Indian War, and the sides of the loyalist and patriots.

For the purpose of this brief we will

explore the North American perspective of wanting independence from Great Britain.

Background Information
In 1776, the Second Continental Congress drafted up a document that was addressed to
King George III of Great Britain and the British Parliament (Timeline and Terms). This
document, the Declaration of Independence forever changed the world. No American document
has had a greater global impact then The Declaration of Independence, it is this document that
declared the colonies to be their own independent nation separate from England. Thomas
Jefferson, the primary author of the declaration, wrote it for many reasons, the main reason being

to gain independence from the unjust rule of the British. The Declaration of Independence was
conceived after King George III refused to acknowledge the Colonists attempts at an Olive
Branch Petition in attempt to resolve the colonists concerns of a tyrannical government. After
the Declaration of Independence was sent to England the American Revolution began prompting
a war and the beginning of a new nation (Cry for Freedom).

Road to the Revolution

There are many events that lead to the signing of The Declaration of Independence. One
event that lead to the signing of the document was The French and Indian war, which is also
known as the Seven Years War. This war was fought to decide if France or Britain would be the
stronger power in North America. France and the Indian allies fought against Britain over a
conflict about the expansion of the Ohio River valley, this brought conflict to the British
colonies, in particularly Virginia. This was expensive and in order to pay off their war debts,
Britain decided to tax the colonists (French and Indian War).
Another event that lead to the signing of The Declaration of Independence was The
Boston Tea Party. This was an act of the Americans protesting against taxation, No taxation
without representation. American colonist believed that Britain was taxing them unfairly to pay
for the expenses that was incurred during the French and Indian War. The American people
believe Parliament did not have the right to tax them since they were not represented in
Parliament. During this time the British started to tax tea trading by imposing taxes onto the
colonies (Nelson, 2016). The colonist did not want to pay the tax on tea so they started
smuggling tea in from the Dutch which only infuriated the British. Parliament passed the
Indemnity Act, which repealed the tax on tea and made British tea the same price as the Dutch
tea. After Parliament realized that they could no longer tax tea trade, they passed the Townshend

Revenue Act, which put a tax on glass, lead, paint, and paper, the American colonists boycotted
and protested this act. As a result of this protesting, the British passed the Tea Act which granted
the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the American colonies (The
Declaration of Independence, 2016). On December 16, 1776, the American colonists,
specifically Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty were so outraged at the Townshend Revenue
Act and the Tea Act that they boarded three ships docked in the Boston harbor and threw 343
chests of teas overboard in protest of the newest acts. This outrange did not sit well with
Parliament and they started to implement more taxes and acts on the American colonist as a
punishment.
The Intolerable Acts which included the Quartering Act and the Stamp Act were more
taxes the British put upon the American colonies. The Quartering Act was a law that Parliament
set that stated, the American colonies had to provide the British soldiers with a room and board,
since the barracks were too small to house all the soldiers. The Redcoats, took advantage and
started to move themselves into the homes of the colonist, and kicking the owners of the house
into the small bedrooms that were originally intended for the Redcoat soldiers (Parliament Passes
the Quartering Act). Colonists did not agree with this forceful intrusion into their houses. They
also felt the British were spying on them to make sure they were not planning any other acts of
rebellion. This act was so intrusive for the colonists that when it came time to draft the Bill of
Rights to the U.S Constitution they included an amendment that made such an act illegal.
The Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament, as a new tax that was imposed on
the American colonies that would require them to pay tax on every single piece of printed paper
they used. This was a direct attempt by the British to raise money in the colonies without the
approval of the colonial legislatures (The Declaration of Independence, 2016). The American

colonist were upset because if this act were to pass it would allow for more issues with taxation
in the future. Taxes such as these were a gross injustice for the Colonists who felt that their
voices were not being represented in Parliament (Parliament Passes the Quarter Act).
The colonists as a result of these taxes began to boycott British goods and formed the
First Continental Congress. The Olive Branch Petition was a formal request to King George III
to allow colonial representation in Parliament but he ignored the petition. This angered the
colonist who realized that England was never going to allow them the freedom they were
accustomed too (Congress Adopts Olive Branch Petition).
After the Olive Branch Petition was ignored the colonists returned to Philadelphia to
make an action plan on how to deal with England. This created the Second Continental Congress
and in 1776 Thomas Jefferson was nominated to write the Declaration of Independence which
formally listed all the grievances against the king, parliament, and England as well as formally
declared the colonies independence from England. This would spark a war unlike any other and
inspire France to declare its own independence (Congress Adopts Olive Branch Petition).

Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, however, was not the first choice author for this document. The
Second Continental Congress originally wanted Benjamin Franklin to write the document
declaring independence from England, however Thomas Jefferson proved to be the better writer.
Thomas Jefferson was a wealthy Virginian who was inspired by Enlightenment philosophers
Rosseau, Locke and Thomas Paine. This inspiration can be seen in his inclusion of the idea of
natural rights (Lockes) and the idea that the people have a right to overthrow their unjust
government (Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence). As Jefferson began writing the
declaration, he wrote that all men should be created equal, everyone should have the same basic

rights; Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Jefferson believed that the government should
get their power from the people, not the king. Jefferson also wrote charges against King George
III, accusing him of imposing taxes of colonist without their consent, and cutting off trade to
parts of the world. Once Jefferson finished his draft of the Declaration of Independence he
showed the document to Franklin and Adams who made a few small changes, and they gave the
document to the Second Continental Congress. Congress approved the declaration after careful
consideration, all thirteen states voted for the declaration, and was signed off by members of
congress (Fascinating Facts about the Declaration of Independence).

Arguments for and Against the Declaration of Independence

While the majority of colonists were for writing the Declaration of Independence. They
recognized they were denied their natural rights, and there were those who did not support the
idea of revolution. These people were known as loyalists, and they were primarily lived in the
South. The loyalist stayed loyal to the British and would fight alongside them and defended all
the rules and taxes the British Parliament put into place. The Patriots, were colonists who
recognized that they were being denied their natural rights, many of the Patriots lived in the
North. The Patriots wanted to become independent from the tyrannical rule of the king. They
were in support of the writing of the Declaration of Independence, and supported the
Revolutionary War which took place in the Northern American colonies, The loyalist did not
like that they had to help pay for a war they did not believe was necessary to have, especially
since no damage was done to their part of the colonies. This lead to tension between the two
parts of the United States, which down the road will cause greater issues that will eventually lead
to the Civil War between the states. (The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History
and Citizenship).

Conclusion
The road leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was not an easy road
to travel. There were many bumps and debates along the way. The American colonies dealt with
so much from the British Parliament and King George III, that all they could do to escape the
tyrannical rule was to declare independence, and form the United States of America. The
formation of the United States of America would not have been possible if it was not for Thomas
Jefferson in 1776. Little did Jefferson know that the document he wrote demanding
independence would lead to a major debate within the colonies on whether or not they would go
to war with England. This debate would lead to the War for Independence, lasting eight years,
leading to the formation of the United States of America.
One question to consider asking is could the issues the United States is currently facing
ever lead to another Declaration of Independence? With the upcoming presidential elections
many citizens are taking a stronger stance than in the past. For the 2016 Presidential Election
will be unlike anything seen in recent times. In fact it may well be the most important one since
1860... (Independent Presidential Candidates). This election has exceedingly separate sides of
viewpoints, it is causing many debates all across America. Many citizens are getting into heated
debates siding for or against the presidential candidates. This is just the beginning of the new age
for elections. Although, it has been over 240 years since the original signing of the Declaration
of Independence anything is possible, only time can tell what historical events will take place
over the next hundred years.
References

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History and Citizenship Website. (n.d.).
Retrieved February 17, 2016, from
https://www.history.org/history/teaching/tchcrsta.cfmhe-declaration-of-independence.
Congress Adopts Olive Branch Petition. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-adopts-olive-branch-petition
The Declaration of Independence: Cry for Freedom. (2015). Retrieved January 29, 2016, from
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/declaration.htm
Fascinating Facts about the Declaration of Independence. (2016). Retrieved January 29, 2016,
from http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/Fascinating
Facts about the Declaration of Independence. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2016, from
http://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/fascinating-facts/
French and Indian War. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2016, from
http://www.history.com/topics/french-and-indian-war
Independent Presidential Candidates. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from
http://2016.presidential-election.info/
Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2016, from
http://classroom.monticello.org/kids/resources/profile/6/Jefferson-and-the-Declarationof-Independence/
COMMON CORE ESSENTIAL STANDARDS. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2016, from
http://www.corestandards.org/standards-in-your-state/

Nelson, Ken. (2016). American Revolution for Kids: Declaration of Independence.

Ducksters. Retrieved from

http://www.ducksters.com/history/declaration_of_independence.php
Parliament Passes the Quartering Act. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2016, from
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/parliament-passes-the-quartering-act
Timeline and Terms. (n.d.). Retrieved January 29, 2016, from
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/american-revolution-1763-1783/roadrevolution/timeline-terms