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DeclarationofIndependenceMicrosoft®Encarta®Encyclopedia1

DeclarationofIndependence

IINTRODUCTION

DeclarationofIndependence,documentinAmericanhistoryudbythe13BritishNorthAmerican

larationofIndependencewas

adoptedinfinalformonJuly4,edividedintothreeparts:astatementofprinciple

concerningtherightsofmanandthelegitimacyofrevolution,alistofspecificgrievancesagainst

England’sKingGeorgeIII,andaformalclaimofindependence.

Thedocumenttransformedthecolonists’strugglewithGreatBritainfromadefenoftheirrights

asEnglisot

establishastructureofgovernmentandshouldnotbeconfudwitheithertheArticlesof

Americancolonists,thedeclaration

wasanannouncementtotherestoftheworldthatthecolonieswereindependentfromGreatBritain;

lwastosolidifyinternalsupportfortheirstruggle

andtoencourageexternalassistancefromEuropeanpowerssuchasFrance.

IIBRITISHCOLONIALCONTROL

tish-Americantriumphinthe

FrenchandIndianWar(1754-1763)wasparticularlysignificantbecauitnotonlycaudFrance

toloitsNorthAmericanempire,butalsoledtochangesinBritain’srelationshipwithitsown

colonies.

Afterthewar,ntrywas

heavilyindebtbecauofwarexpens;itneededmoneyandfeltthatthecoloniesshouldpaya

tion,theBritishfounditdifficulttomaintaincontrol

overtheAmericancolonieswithoutamorecentralizedadministrativesysteminNorthAmerica.

DuringtheFrenchandIndianWar,veralcolonieshadrefudtocooperatefullyinthewareffort

ingwasalsosorampantthatthe

AmericancustomsrvicecosttheBritishmoremoneytorunthanitearnedinrevenue.

TheBritishgovernmentdecidedtomaintaina10,000-manarmytoprotectthecoloniesfromNative

ycouldalsohelptomaintainBritishauthority

mentorderedthecustomsofficetocollectthetaxesleviedonimports,

usuallycalledduties,moreefficientlyandpasdtheSugarActin1764)andtheStampActin1765

tofthemoneywastocome

awsmadeeconomicntotheBritish,whodidnotethemas

directthreatstoAmericanliberty.

IIIEARLYCOLONIALRESISTANCE

lonistsobjectedtothe

unaccustomedBritishenforcementofcustomscollections,andothersspokepubliclyagainstthe

SugarAct,eventhoughthisnewmeasureactuallyloweredthedutyimpodbytheMolassAct.

(Despiteloweringtheduty,increadrevenuewaxpectedbecaucollectionwouldbestrictly

enforced.)w,pasdbyParliamentin

1765,requiredthepurchaofrevenuestampsforlegaldocumentsandmanyotherpaperproducts.

AmericanprotestorsobjectedtothefactthatParliament,whichcontainednocolonialreprentation,

hadpasdataxonthecoloniststorairevenue.

AngrycolonistsformedpatrioticorganizationscalledtheSonsofLibertyandencouraged

pearedthroughoutthecolonies,

forcingstampdistributorstoresignanddiscouragingmerchantsfromimportingBritishgoods.A

StampActCongressmetinNewYorkCitytodiscusscolonialgrievancesandpetitionthekingand

hecongress,thecolonistsorganizedaboycottofBritish

products,mentrepealedthemeasurein

1766,respondingtopressurebyBritishbusinessinterestsandachangeofadministrationinGreat

Britain.

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DuringtheStampActcontroversy,

admittedtherightofParliamenttoregulatecommercethroughexternalorindirecttaxation,but

denieditsrigh

Amehofficials

claimedthatAmericanshad"virtualreprentation,"arguingthatParliamentprotectedAmerica’s

bestinte

comparedParliamenttothelocalcolonialasmbliesthattheoreticallyreprentedallcolonists

eventhough

emphasizetheirpoint,theBritishimmediatelyfollowedtherepealoftheStampActwiththe

tasrtedParliament’srighttolegislateforthe

lonistsrefudtoaccepttheideathattheywere

reprentedinParliament,o

AmericanRevolution:TheIdeologicalSourcesofResistance.

IVTAXESONTEA

TheStam1767Great

BritainpasdtheTownshendActs,whichplaceddutiesonavarietyofitemsimportedbythe

ctsalsosuspendedtheNewYorkcolonialasmblyforviolationsofthe

QuarteringActof1765,ameasurethatrequiredthecoloniestoprovidehousingandsuppliesfor

ainthecolonistsformedcommittees,arrangedaboycott,andpressured

tensionsalsoledtotheBostonMassacre,aviolent

confrontationinMarch1770betweenamobofBostonresidentsandBritishtroopsguardingthe

olonistsudthisincidenttowhipupevengreateranti-Britishntiment,

eventhoughtheysoonreceivednewsthattheBritishgovernmenthadcanceledallofthe

Townshenddutiexceptthetaxontea.

ThreeyearslaterParliamentpasdanotherTeaActinanefforttoaidtheBritishEastIndia

Company,alaasure

grantedtheEastIndiaCompanyamonopolyoftheteatrade,butactuallyloweredthepriceofteain

thecoloniesbecauitdidnotrequirethecompanytopaycustomsdutiestotheBritishtreasury.

However,thenewTeaActfacedgreatoppositionbecauitrequiredcollectionoftheimportduties

ontea,forcingcoloniststoacceptEnglishtaxationandhurtingthebusinessofmerchantswhowere

competitorsoftheEastIndiaCompany.

OnDecember16,1773,anorganizedmobinBostondumpedEastIndiaCompanyteaintothe

"teaparties"followedinother

shthecolonistsforthisdestructionofproperty,Parliamentin1774pasdariesof

easurescurtailedthepowersofthe

Massachuttsasmblyandlocaltownmeetings,clodtheportofBoston,requiredcoloniststo

providehousingandsuppliestoBritishsoldiers,andallowedthegovernortomovethetrialof

BritishofficialsfromMassachuttsincapitalcasforactscommittedinthelineofduty.

VFIRSTCONTINENTALCONGRESS

Protestsgrewstrongerasothercoloniesalsofeltthreatenedandcametothedefenof

calledCommitteesofCorrespondenceorganizedcommunicationnetworks

ecommitteesand

somecoloniallegislaturesissuedacallforanall-colonycongresstodiscussotherappropriate

responstoBritain’tinentalCongressfirstmetinPhiladelphiafromSeptember

dydidnotplanforwar;instead,itdebatedtheextenttowhich

stContinentalCongresspasda

resolutiononOctober14calledtheDeclarationofRightsandGrievances,whichdeniedthepower

ofParliamentto

October20thecongressalsotupaContinentalAssociation,compodofcommitteesfromeach

colony,toenforcetheboycottofBritishimportsandinstituteabanonexportsifParliamentdidnot

repealtheIntolerableActs.

ReprentativestotheContinentalCongressdeclaredthattheyhadwrittenbothmeasuresasloyal

irstdocument,theyexpresdthehopethat"theirfellowsubjectsinGreat

Britain"olution

fortheContinentalAssociationopenedwiththephra"We,hismajesty'smostloyalsubjects…."

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Between1765andthebeginningof1775thestoryoftheresistancemovementremainsfocudon

ementofeventsdidnotfollowa

d,therewasgive-and-take,withbothsidesneverquite

heFirstContinentalCongress,however,eventstookadramatic

turnthattransformedtheprofessionsofloyaltyintochargesthatthekingandParliamenthadno

righttointerfereincolonialaffairs.

VIHOSTILITIESBEGIN

TheIntolerableActshadoutragedthepeopleofBoston,buttheyalsoprovokedcolonistsoutsideof

thecitybecauofprovisionslimitinglocalgovernmentandplacingthecolonymoredirectlyunder

sthroughoutMassachuttsarmedthemlves,practiceddrills,and

othegewast

fortheoutbreakofhostilities,whichbeganonApril19,lThomasGage,theroyal

governorofcolonialMassachutts,orderedBritishtroopstomarchonthesmalltownsof

LexingtonandConcord,diersweretoldtocaptureresistanceleaders

ebeganwhentheBritishtroopxchangedfireinLexington

withasmallcompanyofminutemen,thecolonialvolunteerswhowerepreparedtofightata

moment’ricansweredefeatedatLexington,butwonavictoryatNorthBridgein

portantly,thecolonialtroopsinflictedheavycasualtiesontheBritishasthey

oLexington,Battleof;Concord,Battleof.

TheFirstContinentalCongresshadmadeprovisionstomeetagaininMay1775ifthekingdidnot

eSecondContinentalCongressconvenedasscheduled,

AmericanmilitiahadsurroundedBoston,egatesassumedthe

responsibilitiesofaprovisionalgovernment,includingthetasksofprintingmoneyandcreatingthe

ContinentalArmy,,they

ntonelastpleatotheking,oftencalledtheOliveBranchPetition,askinghimtorepealthehated

ereaftertheyalsoissueda“Declarationofthecausandnecessityfortakingup

arms,”explainingthereasonsfortheiractionsandpromisingtostopfightingassoonastheBritish

gGeorgeIIIignoredtheirappeals;inAugust1775he

issuedaproclamationdeclaringthecoloniestobeinastateofrebellionandorderingallofhis

officersandloyalsubjectstosuppresstherevolt"andbringthetraitorstojustice."Duringthe

followingyear,theContinentalCongresdgedtowardtheDeclarationofIndependence.

VIICOMMONSENSE

ThepublicationofCommonSenbyThomasPaineinJanuary1776helpedconvincemany

pamphlet,Paine,amagazineeditorandwriter

newlyarrivedfromEngland,attackedtheking,theideaofroyalty,andeventhenotionthatthere

uentyetbitinglanguage,Painealsomadeadirectappealfora

phlethadanelectrifying

pringof1776localCommitteesof

Correspondenceandsomestatelegislaturesbegantocallopenlyforindependence.

VIIIINDEPENDENCERESOLUTION

OnJune7,1776,RichardHenryLee,areprentativefromVirginia,propodaresolutioninthe

ContinentalCongress"thattheunitedcoloniesareandofrightoughttobefreeandindependent

States."ThismeasuresoughttoendAmerica’sallegiancetotheCrownanddissolveallpolitical

ghtheContinentalCongressdidnotpasstheresolutionuntil

July2,itimme

committeeincludedThomasJefferson,BenjaminFranklin,JohnAdams,RogerSherman,and

ston.

IXJEFFERSON’SDECLARATION

ThetaskofdraftingthedeclarationfelltoJefferson,whowasknownforhispowerfulwritingstyle.

stctioncontainedastatementof

pondprenteda

sondidnotdirectthe

DeclarationofIndependenceMicrosoft®Encarta®Encyclopedia4

grievancesatParliament,butatKingGeorgeIII,rd

andlastporson

intendedthedocument“tobeanexpressionoftheAmericanmind,”buttheeloquenceofthe

phrasingwashisown.

BenjaminFranklinandJohnAdamsmadesomeadjustmentstoJefferson’sdraftbeforethe

committeesubmittedittotheContinentalCongressonJune28,tiontothedocument

continuedamongafewreprentatives,includingJohnDickinsonofPennsylvania,whofavored

elegationsweresplit

rereprentativeCaesarRodney,whohadnotbeeninattendance,rode80

milesbyhorbacktoreachPhiladelphiaandbreakatiebetweenthetwootherDelawaredelegates,

ensuringthatDelawarewouldsupportindependence.

ReprentativesofficiallyvotedforindependenceonJuly2,Yorkdelegation

abstainedfromthevotingbecautheyhadnotyetreceivedordersfromtheNewYorkconvention

hevoteonJuly2,reprentativesthenbegantodebatetheactualtext

deonlyafewchanges;mostsignificantwasthedeletionofJefferson's

4,1776,the

ContinentalCon

Yorkagainabstained,althoughitsdelegationwasauthorizedtoratifytheindependenceresolution

onJuly9,thedelegatessignedanofficialcopyonAugust2,withthreeabnt

legatessuchasJohnDickinsoncontinuedtohave

doubtsaboutthewisdomofindependenceandneveractuallysignedthedocument.

ThomasJeffersonclaimedthatheud"neitherbooknorpamphlet"whenwritingthedeclaration,

buthisthegreatest

hilosophersbelievedthatthe

cknowledgingthatthis

patternderivedfromtheultimatewisdomofGod,theyalsoheldthattheworldwasunderstandable

tingsofFrench,English,andScottishEnlightenment

philosophersfrequentlyprentedtheconceptthatallmenarecreatedequalandpossscertain

son’sbeliefinthesocialcontractcamefromBritishpoliticalphilosopher

JohnLocke,whoarguedthatgovernmentexistedbyconntofthegovernedandthatpeopleshould

elonglistofgrievancesagainstKingGeorgeIII

ingtoprevalentthinkingduringtheAgeofEnlightenment,

anydeviationfromthenaturalandreasonablecourofevents,includingtheperceivedabuofthe

Americancolonies,resultedfromtheactionsofevilmenratherthanawhimofnature.

XIMPACTOFTHEDECLARATIONOFINDEPENDENCE

Overtime,tsfrom

thedocumentsuchas"allmenarecreatedequal"quicklytookonalifeoftheirownorwereapplied

quicklyudthislanguagetochallengeslavery

alofequalityledNorthernstatestofreeslaveswithintheirbordersin

the1780s,ndwhiteabolitionistsudtheidealthatallmenwere

ilrightssupportersrallied

behindJefferson’1848thedelegates

totheSenecaFallswomen'srightsconventionproclaimedthat"allmenandwomenarecreated

equal,"andtheir20th-centuryfeministcounterpartsdidthesame.

Othergroupshavefocudonthedocument’sdefenoftherighttorebelagainstanunjust

larationofIndependencehadaprofoundimpactontheFrenchRevolution;its

influencewasstrongintheDeclarationoftheRightsofManandoftheCitizen,adoptedbythe

19thcenturytheprinciplesofthedeclarationwere

adoptedbyvariousLatinAmericanmovementsfightingforindependencefromEuropeancolonial

larationalsoestablishedaprecedentfortheSouthernstatestocedepriortothe

AmericanCivilWar(1861-1865)

declarationinfluencedmorerecentstrugglesfornationalidentity:VietnameCommunistleader

HoChiMinh,forexample,citedtheAmericandocumentasoneoftherationalesbehindhisfightto

establishanindependentandunifiedVietnam.

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Thedginal

copyoftheDeclarationofIndependenceprobablyaccompaniedtheContinentalCongresswherever

itmetduringtheAmericanRevolution(1775-1783)

theConstitutionoftheUnitedStateswasadoptedin1789,Congressassignedthedocumenttothe

enextcenturythedeclarationwasmovedtoveral

differentlocationsandplacedonpublicdisplayinthePatentOfficeBuildingandtheState

1894StateDepartmentofficialswithdrewthedocumentfromexhibition

raryofCongress

tookresponsibilityforthedeclarationinthe1920sandafterconrvationworkdisplayeditina

WorldWarIIthedocumentwasmovedtemporarilytothe

government’sgolddepositoryatFortKnox,Kentucky,andthenin1952permanentlytransferredto

thecareoftheNationalArchives.

Today,eachpageoftheDeclarationofIndependenceisprotectedinaglassandbronzecafilled

withinertheliumgasandmonitoredwithsophisticatedcomputertechnologyforanysignsof

emillionAmericansviewthedocumenteachyearintherotundaofthe

NationalArchivesBuildinginWashington,D.C.,whereitisdisplayedalongwiththeConstitution

oftheUnitedStatesandtheBillofRights.