Declaration Of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is known as the ÐŽ§freedom documentЎЁ to many Americans because of what it signifies. Today, we celebrate this independence by having parades and many other activities on the day that this document was signed to declare our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It was not all 50 states that signed this document but instead 13 British colonies; colonies that soon became New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and 9 others, mainly in the New England area. These colonies refused to be ruled by the Kingdom of Great Britain and declared their independence by signing The Declaration of Independence in 1776.

History

The Kingdom of Great Britain controlled 13 colonies located in the Americas. During the 1750s and the 1760s conflict grew between Great Britain and the American colonies. The colonists people did not see independence as the first solution to the problem but instead first formed the Stamp Act Congress of 1765 and the First Continental Congress of 1774 in order to come to an agreement with the Kingdom of Great Britain. ÐŽ§These were predominantly conservative assemblies that sought redress from the crown and reconciliation, not independenceЎЁ (Encyclopedia: Declaration of Independence). The First Continental Congress was made up of members that represented all 13 colonies except for Georgia. As the members of the First Continental Congress began to discuss a way to end their discontentment, feelings of desperation began to grow. The battle of Lexington and Concord was a reflection of growing tensions among the people and the people of the colonies decided to fight for their independence. This battle later grew into becoming the American Revolutionary War. In order to keep their power and control, the Kingdom of Great Britain passed the Intolerable Acts, which were a series of laws passed in response to the Boston Tea Party. However, instead of these laws oppressing the people, the laws only strengthened their resolve and their desire for freedom grew. The First Continental Congress saw no progress in their attempt to compromise with the British. In order to combat the British, the Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington commander in chief.

On June 7, 1776, those representing North Carolina and Virginia were instructed to declare independence. In order to come to an agreement, a ÐŽ§committee consisting of John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Robert Sherman of ConnecticutЎЁ (United States Declaration of Independence) decided to meet on June 11 in order to reach a solution. Jefferson was appointed to write the draft. Before the first draft was sent to Congress, Jefferson, Adams and Franklin revised it (United States Declaration of Independence). But the first draft was not the draft that was implemented, the draft was again revised. On July 4, 1776, after going multiple revisions the final draft, now known as the Declaration of Independence, was adopted and put into place.

Importance

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents known in American history. ÐŽ§It is essentially a partisan document, a justification of the American Revolution presented to the worldЎЁ (Encyclopedia: Declaration of Independence). Just like many of the other colonies had already declared their independence