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Arguments For The Declaration Of Independence

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American colonists on July 4, 1776 decided to gather together to draft what is known as the Declaration of Independence and sent the final copy of the Declaration of Independence to England. Throughout the document they describe all the contention and tyrannical acts that the Crown has had toward the colonists. They give specific examples such as the Quartering Act, where colonists had to take in soldiers and not only take care of them but provide for them. The colonists were enraged when these events came to pass, and decided after many petitions and letters, they wanted to be heard after so much time. Three essential arguments and beliefs that were established in the Declaration included unalienable rights, getting rid of imposed taxes, and …show more content…

Unalienable rights are rights that you are born with which include having freedom of speech, etc. This right is referred to as “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (statement of beliefs) in the Declaration of Independence. This phrase is quite popular and is known to give examples of having rights that are given since birth. Under the rule of Great Britain, Colonists were not able to have these rights. The document states, “King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States” (statement of beliefs). King George III was described as tyrannical and rejected all of the letters that came from the colonists, always wanting to have control over them. Using the words “injuries” and “usurpations”, emphasize the fact that England was really controlling and that the colonists had separated away from them. England only used America for personal interest and realized that it was about time they break away from the …show more content…

King George decided that the best way to get money was by taxing ridiculous taxes to the colonists. He had taxes on all paper goods and textiles such as sugar and tea. The colonists continue to complain about how they were sent soldiers to collect these taxes and on top of that having to provide housing for the soldiers. They found this very unfair and thought King George was only present in the colonies for selfish gain. In the Grievances the colonists said, “imposing Taxes on us without our Consent” (Grievances). This line demonstrates how powerless the colonists were, highlighting the fact that they weren’t asked for consent nor warned about it. Becoming free of these taxes allowed them to live their lives more justly. The colonists say, “Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury” (Statement of Redress). The colonists feel as if they are only getting punished when they speak their mind, their opinions being dismissed. “Injury” refers to all taxes that are affecting people's way of living in the colonies and lives only because the King thought so. Leading the Americans colonists to think the Crown has become

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687 Words | 3 Pages

"Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it" (Thomas Paine). This quote relates to the struggles that the British had to endure while finding solutions for their many dilemmas. In order for the British to have full advantage over the colonial nation, they had to overcome these issues. They figured that they could press the American colonists to help share this burden, which would not only be a solution for their problems, but would also increase their power throughout the country. Therefore, the British desired to tax the American colonists due to the financial consequences of the French and Indian war, to demonstrate sovereignty, and for defense against the French.

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869 Words | 4 Pages

After the conclusion of the French and Indian War, England attempted to increase control over its American colonies until the colonists began an armed rebellion at Lexington and Concord in 1775. John Adams, however, accurately points out that while Lexington and Concord serve as a beginning of military conflict between the colonists and their British rulers, the actual revolution took place during the previous decade. This view of the 1766 to 1775 colonial reaction to Great Britain’s reorganization of the empire is illustrated by James Otis’ essay, The Rights of the British Colonies, the Stamp Act Congress’ proposed resolutions and Benjamin Franklin’s testimony before the Parliament, and Patrick Henry’s speech to the House of Burgesses. These

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529 Words | 3 Pages

The colonists were angry that they were being taxed with representation in Parliament. Document 6 illustrates the protests that took place as a result of the imposing of the Stamp Act. In Document 3 George Washington expresses his opinion on Great Britain taxing the colonists. He

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1031 Words | 5 Pages

During late 18th century America, there was much debate regarding the topic of the where the American colonies stood: with Britain, or separate from them. The British crown with parliament continuously imposed taxes upon the colonies and with each tax imposed the colonists grew increasingly angrier. However, there still was the debate that the British were justified as well for the taxes they imposed since they had supported the colonies in the French-Indian war. While the British did have, a good argument regarding with their justification the colonies were justified in their actions of separating from the crown.

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Introduction In the late 1700s, the British government taxed the American colonists. Many might ask if it was a substantial decision to tax the American Colonists as a way to make money. Taxing the American Colonists led to many events that would not benefit the British. The taxation of the American Colonists was not a prudent decision on Britain’s behalf.

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2027 Words | 9 Pages

A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people” (Doc7). This excerpt from “The Declaration of Independence” describes King George III as an unfit ruler of the people and tells of the colonists’ petitions that have been read and thrown back at them with repeated hatefulness. It also tells of the King’s history of repeating injury and usurpations while having the ability to establish oppressive rule over all of the states. Another view of this situation includes the view of the British. In their eyes the colonists are being immature and are complaining more than needed towards the King George III’s decisions and ways of ruling.

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1425 Words | 6 Pages

It was Britain’s method of increasing their wealth through commerce, and they used it to their advantage during the Seven Years War as they were going broke through taxations on the British colonies. 2. Why did many colonists feel that their rights had been violated by British taxes? What measures did they take to protest this?

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715 Words | 3 Pages

The colonists were not only angry because of the taxes. They had no power to represent to British that they did not like the taxes. They adapted a saying (“No taxation without representation”) to say that the British can not tax without

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714 Words | 3 Pages

They believed they had the right to “assemble, consider their grievances, and petition the king” if they found the grievances against the British to be many (Document 6). The colonists must have risked their lives, money, and pride in order to achieve equal representation and total liberty rather than just attaining lower taxes and lowering trading restrictions. Even before the American Revolution, the colonies had viewed themselves as self governing. However, once the British ended the salutary neglect the colonists had blissfully enjoyed, it became clear that the British were beginning to restrict their local representations by shutting down their town meetings and placing soldiers everywhere as an attempt to stop the smuggling of goods and to enforce their taxation acts by issuing the Quartering act, which obligated the colonists to house the British soldiers. As a result of these new acts imposed by the parliament, nine colonies sent out a representative to New York in 1765 to discuss these acts with each other.

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832 Words | 4 Pages

The colonists got angry by this and started rebelling because they did not want to quarter the soldiers and have to do everything for them. However Britain also had power over America by being able to tax them whenever they wanted and however they wanted. George Grenville, Member of Parliament (January 14, 1766) said "The supreme legislative power over America, is granted. It cannot be denied; and taxation is a part of that sovereign power" (Doc 4). Since Britain was able to tax the colonists to make money for the French and Indian war the colonists started rebelling because they did not want to be taxed for items that they used everyday.

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426 Words | 2 Pages

Because of the great amount of power Britain possessed, the colonists were under oppression, ultimately taking action to defend themselves. Namely, according to document 5, the author states, “what is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimited power?”. As the taxes began to mound on top of one over the other, the colonists began to feel overwhelmed. In response, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and three others, created the Declaration of Independence as a call to war, to offset British rule. Like the Stamp Act, the colonists answered with violence, and the violence only increased as the British made sure to oppress the

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527 Words | 3 Pages

The British had said the colonists couldn’t expand west , that was a way that they could prevent war with the Indians. The colonists had the stamp act and colonists had never seen or used stamps. The so colonist were practically being treated unfairly, they were taxed and basically were being enslaved by the British. Britain was taxing the colonies without any depiction.

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539 Words | 3 Pages

For the rest of the colonists, they believed they had natural rights: rights they were born with. The three main natural rights thought to have were life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness; these were included in the Declaration of Independence. Personal rights were very important to the colonists and they were determined to display how they felt to the government. Overall, this period of time brought dramatic changes to the way of living. All of these changes were necessary for our country to function in the needs of both the government and the

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157 Words | 1 Pages

"He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good." (168) Jefferson addresses this problem because, the King is refusing to enforce laws the colonists need. It is crucial to point out this problem, for it can lead to further denials by King George III. He is in a way deriving them of their unalienable rights, of which nobody has the right to take. " For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent."

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204 Words | 1 Pages

The Declaration of Independence implies during the period of time of British's corruption, where colonists’ basic rights were mistreated through “the establishment of an absolute Tyranny,” (Jefferson, Declaration of Independence,) it became well-informed with Enlightenment ideas, to protect natural basic human rights including the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The persuasion of independence convinced the colonists to break ties with the British government and to help fulfill the creation of the Declaration of Independence, forming an "equal" democracy in the colonies. Like Declaration of Independence, the Constitution embodies the forms of democratic views by detailing the rights of a citizen. For example, the first ten Amendments,

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