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Compare America's Independence To The Declaration Of Independence

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In 1775, right after the battles, the colonies were at war with Britain. Some Americans thought that King George Ⅲshould still be their rulers, but most thought that they it was worth fighting for independence. Many people gave speeches and wrote documents or pamphlets to express their thinking. For example, Patrick Henry, from Virginia, gave a speech and said, “Give me liberty or give me death!” John Adams and Richard Henry Lee were also believed in independence, and gave speeches as well. Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet known as the Common Sense. Within a few months, colonists had bought over 100,000 copies of it! George Washington had said, “I find Common Sense is working a powerful change in the minds of many.” The Second Continental Congress …show more content…

So, Congress chose Thomas Jefferson (mentioned later on) and four other men. Jefferson wrote what had been already said by the colonists. He included John Locke's ideas, and many other english thinkers who had written or made speeches about independance. On the document, he argued that all the people should have their own rights that nobody can change or take away. Colonists have the right to live, the right to be free, and the right to seek happiness. Jefferson said, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these a Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…” It also stated that Britain didn’t serve the colonies. One example would be that King George Ⅲhad tried to take away people's rights, and made everyone pay taxes. People would be punished if they hadn’t payed the taxes. When the document was finally finished, the Second Continental Congress had voted to accept the Declaration of Independence. By then, they need to sign, but it was very risky. The British would call it a treason, and whoever signed could be hanged, and/or be charged with treason. However, the delegates were brave and

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368 Words | 2 Pages

After Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress didn’t pursue independence, but they did select George Washington as the military commander. From April 1775 to July 1776, many colonists were confused for their feelings of independence; some colonists wanted to mend differences, while others wanted to fight Britain. The British fought back hard and strong by burning down towns and attacking the colonists. Thomas Paine’s book, Common Sense, argued that the colonists out grew the need for any English rule and they should be given independence. Finally, Thomas Jefferson was appointed to create a draft of the Declaration of Independence, and it was approved by Congress on July 4, 1776.

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799 Words | 4 Pages

The Age of Reason is a name used to describe the age that influenced the American Statesmen of the Revolution. Taxes forced upon the colonists by Britain after the French and Indian War enraged the colonists, leading to the Revolution that would change the world forever. Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and Thomas Paine’s The Crisis Number 1 were two very important works of literature during the Revolutionary period. Both works used persuasion effectively.

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564 Words | 3 Pages

The settlers in the colonies started to gathering ideas to create their own nation and stop being ruled by the British Government. The problem with pure democracy was that people were not treated equal and the government was abusing of its power, and the colonists wanted a solution to that problem. The Declaration of Independence took place in Philadelphia. Fifty-six delegates from the thirteen colonies gathered for the Second Continental Congress they were seeking a solution for the similar problem they had in the colonies. Our founding fathers signed the United States Declaration of Independence.

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743 Words | 3 Pages

Thomas Paine had successfully contributed to the declaration of independence and his 47-page pamphlet, “Common Sense”, impacted numerous Americans. “Common Sense” allowed citizens of the colony to

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214 Words | 1 Pages

The founding fathers evolved their ideas about what a government shouldn’t be--which were expressed in the Declaration of Independence--into ideas about what a government should be--which were expressed in the Constitution. The Declaration focuses on being “separate” from Great Britain, using words such as “dissolve” to emphasize the new start for the colonies. The Constitution also focuses on a new start for the colonies, but in a different way. The Declaration tries to define the colonies as being apart from Great Britain, while the Constitution defines the colonies as being “united” with each other.

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336 Words | 2 Pages

Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine are both considered to be founding fathers of the United States of America despite the fact that they both came from different backgrounds. Thomas Paine was born in Norfolk England, the son of Quaker and left school early to become his father’s apprentice. Thomas Jefferson was born in Colonial America in the colony of Virginia to a wealthy planter father and a mother from a distinguished family. He was given an extraordinary education and attended college earning a degree in law. As a young man Thomas Paine traveled in England constantly, working and pursuing many different ventures before emigrating to America in 1774.

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768 Words | 4 Pages

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (U.S.). This quote, from the Declaration of Independence, is probably one of the most well-known quote there is. It speaks of man’s right to be free and equal of any one man out there. As we have all learned in our history class back in junior high, the Declaration of Independence was written mainly by Thomas Jefferson to explain why the colonies wanted independence from Great Britain. This document is a list of complaints by the English colonists’ against King George III.

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661 Words | 3 Pages

Thomas Paine was a great writer and was the editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine. Paine was strong in his beliefs and wrote Common Sense. The Declaration of Independence and Common Sense are two well known documents that share remarkably similar ideals regarding the ongoing crisis in America, but they also have some differences. Common Sense is a pamphlet consisting of forty-nine pages on why Paine believes the thirteen American colonies should break off from Great Britain. Throughout the Pamphlet, Paine creates a political argument in an attempt to rally the people together to fight for independence.

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The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are documents which are designed to work together. They together hold the core values, beliefs and laws of the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence was written by the young Thomas Jefferson in 1776 when the people of America went to war against the invading armies of Britain. Britain had colonized America under the rule of King George III.

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1106 Words | 5 Pages

Usually, rights for people were written by the government, such as the rights of Englishmen, but the idea of the government protecting rights that were already endowed to humans was supported by American colonists who were against the idea of the numerous violations of the Rights of Englishmen, which included taxation without consent. These taxes later popularized the famous slogan, “no taxation without representation,” first said by James Otis; most colonists believed that

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609 Words | 3 Pages

The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are different and the same when it comes to what they stand for. In the year of 1787 when Delegates from all states, but Rhode Island met up to come up with a new form of government for the United States of America. That than was when the US Constitution was written. There are two major things that are important that the Constitution stands for.

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Declaration of Independence Precis Thomas Jefferson in his historical document, The Declaration of Independence (1776), asserts that the colonies should break free from Britain’s tyranny. Jefferson supports his assertion through the use of anaphora, parallel structure, imagery, emotional appeal to patriotism, and logical appeal to the colonist’s basic rights. Jefferson’s purpose is to advocate for the separation of Britain and the colonies in order to escape the British tyranny that King George imposes on the American colonists. Jefferson writes in a measured tone for the British parliament, King George, and for colonists who have been a victim of Britain’s oppression.

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982 Words | 4 Pages

The Declaration of Independence often reminds citizens of all the great freedoms to enjoy in this country. To the people who signed and wrote the Declaration in 1776, it was much more than just being able to enjoy freedoms in their new land. By signing that paper, they were agreeing to give up everything they had. They put their families, friends, homes, and businesses at risk of being attacked by the British, however they felt strongly enough about what the British were doing to them that they were willing to risk it all. The Declaration of Independence was influenced by many different people, events, and things, including Thomas Jefferson, The Tea Tax, and the Boston Massacre.

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655 Words | 3 Pages

At the beginning of U.S. history there were many debates on how the country should be run. People mainly argued about the balance of power between the individual person and the Federal Government. Some people and documents that addressed this issue are the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, The U.S. Constitution: Preamble and Bill of Rights, and “Jefferson: The Best of Enemies” by Ron Chernow.    

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800 Words | 4 Pages

Patrick Henry, former governor of Virginia, bravely spoke on the 23rd of March, 1775, at St. John’s Church, introducing his strategies to end the American Revolution in victory. The speech was so inspiring that it ignited a massive flame of patriotism. Americans began to greatly support his political ideology. Due to his stirring choice of words, the phrase “Give me liberty, or give me death!” impacted the listeners, making his remarkable words yet known to this date.

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