Aim: How did America Gain its Independence in 1776?
For a century and a half (150 years) Britain, the mother country, and the North American colonies (The Thirteen Colonies), her children, were as close as a parent and children could be.
What happened to change that relationship?
Perhaps the colonies outgrew childhood and wanted the independence that adults enjoy.
The trouble began after the French and Indian War, which left Britain with tremendous debt.
Why shouldn't the colonists pay some of that debt?
To the colonists, the answer was easy: they shouldn't have to pay for it because they had no representation in the British Parliament that levied the taxes for the colonists to pay.
To be subject to laws in which they had no voice amounted to tyranny. Tyranny was exactly what many colonists, or their parents or grandparents, had risked all to escape. The colonists, even those who had not come from England, expected all the rights of Englishmen. They expected most of all the freedom to govern themselves.
How should England make the colonies pay their fair share?
Parliament tried to tax sugar and tea. It tried to place a stamp tax on all printed documents.
How did the colonies react to the Taxes or Acts of England?
The colonists resisted these taxes with increasing vehemence. Citizens of Boston emptied British tea into the harbor. Britain responded with more oppressive acts, which only served to unite the colonies. The First Continental Congress met in 1774 to draft a formal protest.
In 1775, Patrick Henry expressed the indignation of many who until this time considered themselves British subjects. He called for colonists to place their loyalties and their lives on the line for liberty.
Did the Colonies do something big at the Second Continental Congress?
That is exactly what the delegates to the Second Continental Congress did on July 4, 1776. By then, colonists had died for the Patriotic cause at Lexington and Concord. Fifty-five men, representing the thirteen colonies, placed their signatures on the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson's immortal document.
Did signing the document mean anything to the people who signed it?
In signing, they risked their lives and fortunes. Never before had colonies thrown off the rule of a mother country. Thomas Paine expressed the spirit of the American Revolution: "We have it in our power to begin the world again."
Let’s ask ourselves if we already know anything about the Declaration of Independence.
1. Why were the signers of the Declaration of Independence willing to risk their lives?
2. What did they want?
3. According to the declaration, what rights do all men have?
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America (annotated)
Translated and paraphrased into modern English
It has become necessary for one group of people (the 13 original colonies ‘states’) to cut the political links that have connected them with another group of people (England). For US (read that as United States) to be separate and equal to other world powers, to live by the Law’s of Nature and Nature’s God. Mankind deserves to know the reasons we are separating from England.
We think it is obvious...That all men are created equal. That they have a god given rights, that no one can take away including LIFE, LIBERTY and the Pursuit of Happiness.
That to get and keep these Rights governments are created by people and the governments get their power from the people.
That when ANY form of government becomes destructive to those Rights and its own People…It is the RIGHT of the PEOPLE to change or get rid of it and to create a new government that will be good for their Safety and Happiness
When a government has been around a long time it should not be changed for for some stupid or unimportant reason. Everybody knows that it is sometimes easier for people to put up with their suffering then to make a change. But when you suffer so much for so long that it seems your government is cruel and oppressive, the people have the right and the responsibility to get rid of that government and create a better one for the future.
This is the way it has been for US and now it is time for US to change our government. The King of has a history of hurting US and taking advantage of US. We give you these Facts to prove our case to the world.
He has refused to agree to laws that will be good for the people.
He has not allowed US to take care of important issues without his consent, but then never gives his consent to these issues.
He will not allow US to be represented in the government.
He has meetings with the Local representatives in far away, uncomfortable places away from the public records to make them so tired they will agree to anything.
He has fired our local representatives whenever they stand up to him for taking away our rights.
He does not allow the representatives to be replaced leaving the people in danger and fight with themselves.
He is trying to keep our populations from growing, not allowing new people to come here and making it harder to get land.
He has not allowed US to form local courts or judges.
He controls the judges and their pay.
He has made up many new offices to harass and tax US.
He keeps his soldiers here even though we are at peace.
He, not the people controls the military on our lands.
He along with others forces US to do things we don’t agree with and our against our laws…
For Forceing US to keep his soldiers in our homes.
For having fake trials to protects his soldiers from being punished for murders they commit.
For cutting US off from trading with the rest of the world.
For taxing us without our consent.
For punishing Us without a fair Trial.
For taking us to far way places to be put on trial for made up crimes.
For throwing out all the English laws from a neighbor Province, taking over more land, making it an example of what he wants to do to US.
For getting rid of all the local laws we have established for ourselves.
For getting rid of our local governments and saying the have all the power to decide what is good for US .
He has said he will no longer protect us and makes war against US.
He has stolen from our oceans and lands, burnt our towns and ruined the lives of our people.
He is sending large armies of foreign soldiers to finish destroying US. With Cruelty and deceit totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.
He has captured our own people on the oceans and forced them to fight against US our kill themselves.
He has drafted Indians to fight against US.
We have asked nicely for him to change or fix these problems but all he does he add more problems for us. He is called a Prince but he acts like a tyrant. He is unfit to rule over free people.
Even are own people in England have ignored our problems.
So we make this Declaration to separate ourselves from England. We claim all the rights that any free country has.
Questions for the Declaration of Independence
1. Have you ever signed your name to something really important?
2. Something that could change your life?
3. Something that could possibly lead to prison or death?
4. If you knew that you might be thrown into prison, hanged as a traitor, or lose everything you owned just by signing your name, what might go through your mind just before your pen touched that paper?
5. Is there any cause or belief for which you might be willing to give up everything?
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