The Goals of the Declaration of Independence The American Revolution was not only a battle between the British and the colonists; it was a historical movement that brought about new ways of thinking. The ideas of liberty and equality began to be seen as essential to the growth of the new nation. The separation of the American colonies from the British Empire occurred for a number of reasons. These reasons are illustrated in the Declaration of Independence. Although Thomas Jefferson wrote the document, it expressed the desire of the heart of each colonist to be free of British rule. British rule over the colonies became unbearable in the early months of 1776, making it clear to the colonists that it was time to either give in …show more content…
He is also addressing the relationship between the Englishmen in Britain and the Englishmen in America. The colonists would still be connected to England, but they would no longer be a part England (Pleasants 53). The colonists would form their own government, and no longer be subject to British rule. The introduction concludes: “ . . . and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and Nature’s God entitled them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to separation.” This implies that there should be equality among nations, according to natural law, and that it was time for the colonies to obtain this equal status (Pleasants 53). The colonists also felt that it was necessary to state their reasons for the movement towards independence. They would do this in the body of the document. Their first reason for the declaration was their desire for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This is not to say that it is the responsibility of the government to provide every citizen with happiness, but it was believed that the British were preventing the colonists from being happy. In this time, happiness meant property. Many of the colonists could not own
The Declaration of Independence was formed resulting from the treatment of 13 colonies from the British government without representation after subsequent denials to be represented and treated equal. This historic document was revolutionary because it’s what began the transition of our government into a democracy unlike that of parliament in the 1700’s. The British government and their ruling made decisions that didn’t involve what was right for the people; only what was in the best economic interest of parliament. This caused significant hardships on the American colonies which eventually led to them coming together as a people and forming this declaration.
-It it clear and reasonable that the declaration was made for many causes that weren’t being attended because of the British thinking that even the lowest class in the military was above the civil law of the colonies, and that no one should immigrate to such a place, taking away so many laws from the people making them pay high taxes well mainly the rich for the lands they owned which was good in a way but for all those who wrote the declaration that mainly had a lot of land it was horrible, but for the poor folk it was good in a way but not even for the poorest of peasants to be able to trade with other merchants from other countries ruined the economy in the colonies. Great Britain was the only country and place they could and would trade to it was illegal for the colonists to be able to make money by trading their raw material with any other country.
The authors felt that the colonies were obligated to become free and independent from the tyrannical King George III because of the many atrocities that were being committed by his government at the time. Jefferson et al believed that the British government had fallen away from their ideal of what a just government should be like. The authors believed that there were certain rights that could never be taken away and that everyone has “the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” According to Jefferson et al, whenever a government fails to uphold those rights, the people should replace it with a new one. The Founders felt that the thirteen colonies were not only obligated to break away from the tyranny of British rule, but also
This part of the Declaration of Independence is one of the most important parts, aside from the preamble. It declares the importance of stating why the colonies must separate from Britain. The colonist believed that all men are created equally, and therefore have equal rights. The Declaration states that the United States has had enough suffering under tyranny, and that the colonies have the right to separate themselves from the bad government and form their own.
The Declaration of Independence was written in order to clarify and defend the actions of the Continental Congress. Continental Congress wanted to assume the control of the colonies and become its own government. The colonists' were Englishmen, so they as Englishmen should have the rights of Englishmen. The colonist were tired of
“I believe American independence was inevitable, not necessarily in 1776 but within decades. The continental colonies were growing too fast and as Paine pointed out there was something ridiculous about an island ruling a continent,” said Gordon S. Wood, American Revolution expert and historian. (allthingsliberty.com) The Stamp Act, Navigation Act, and Quartering Act, instituted by the British, caused the colonists to feel oppressed, creating their desire to be independent. The American Revolution was avoidable in 1776, but it was inevitable for all of history. The British started to feel less in control of the colonies, so they started to make acts that were unfair towards the colonists.
“Was the American Revolution Really Revolutionary?” Many people wonder was the American Revolution really revolutionary, and it’s an interesting and good question to ask . When speaking of the American Revolution, you should first know what a revolution is. A revolution is defined as a forcible overthrow of a government in favor of a new system and there’s convincing evidence that that’s what the American Revolution is and was. The American Rev. was a conflict between the thirteen Colonies and Britain (that later included the French), fought over government regulations and restrictions that the British were forcing onto the Colonists.
Imagine living in a country where the citizens have no power or input into their government. The signers of the Declaration of Independence wanted to separate from Great Britain to control their own government and economy. The colonists felt that it was time for a change. They decided to cut themselves free from all ties with Great Britain.
In the Declaration of Independence, colonists expressed their discontentment about the English government and inequality they faced at the time, such as a limit to natural rights. In the Declaration, the colonists felt certain rules were crucial to their happiness and freedom.
The purpose of the Declaration of Independence is having the natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I know this because the King of Great Britain refused to assent laws, he made legislation feel uncomfortable by calling them together at unusual places, and changed laws where he could not be replaced. The king of Great Britain took major measurements such as obstructing the Administrations of Justice, sent hither storms of officers to harass the people, and in times of peace he kept standing armies without consent of the legislation. The United States was tired of being ignored and their repeated petitions was answered only by repeated injury. Being that Americans didn’t feel safe nor happy by being under the rule of
It also states when such situation arises; government it is not only their ambition, but it is their right and their duty to throw off such a Government and to provide the foundation for a new government to ensure their future security. Next, in section one of the Declaration of Independence listed twenty-eight grievances the American colonies had against King George III. Then, section two of the Declaration specifically stated what endeavors were taken by the colonist’s to overturn some of the decisions of King George III but ultimately were met in vain. Lastly, a conclusion of the Declaration of Independence notes that having recorded their objections, which British North American were living, they – the Colonies declared their right to be free and independent from the British rule. It further declared that any legislative acquaintances between the two were to be eliminated. The new nation was to be called the United States of America and was to have no further association with Great Britain. That the new government would reserve rights to exercise war, make reconciliation, as well as make collaborations with foreign nations.
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. Is one of the most important documents ever wrote it, was a document that gave hope to people that some day everyone would be free. The Preamble contains probably the most famous lines of the Declaration of why independence was necessary (Mr. Griffin, Lecture). The Preamble states that there are certain unalienable rights that government should never violate. When government takes away these rights, the governed have just cause to overthrow or separate themselves from that government. The thought that people had a right to overthrow government was revolutionary, although the premise had been stated by philosophers in the past (Boyer 159). Then, Great Britain is guilty of attempting to take away the aforementioned God given rights; therefore, the colonists are justified in separating themselves from Great
The main reason for the independence America has today wasn’t just because of winning the Revolutionary War, it involved the innovative minds of the founding fathers of Congress. The Congress composed the Declaration of Independence to further improve and persuade upon the thought of America disbanding from Britain and becoming its own nation. Congress also expanded upon the notion of how Britain had treated them poorly and that America deserves to be its own country. In the Declaration of Independence, the founding fathers provided step-by-step logic for American independence through the Preamble, the Declaration of Natural Rights, the Grievances, and the Resolution of Independence.
Sure, all that needed to be done was to express how the colonists were tired of the way things were going under the rule of King George III. They were declaring their independence, end of story, right? No, not at all. This was important to our founding fathers (Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman and Livingston). So, the point could very well have been conveyed on a more simpler level, however, these men felt strongly about explaining just why their independence was to be declared. Undoubtedly with great reason as this document has been and always will be the greatest document of ALL human rights. A statement that embraces what America is and what we stand for and believe in. An explanation was needed to express how important ALL men were and
A: I think George Washington had this done because that he wanted to inform all of the colonies what they were fighting for and why they were fighting. With the Declaration read by most colonists, the Declaration showed the colonists that their cause to become independent was just. The document also showed that this was the only way to secure their God given rights and be able to have a government that actual represents all of them.