DBQ: The American Revolution

The American Revolution emerged due to increased tensions between the American Colonists and the British government during the colonist’s growing desire for Independence. As a result of the Revolution, documents outlining an independent government were shaped. The first being the Articles of Confederation followed by the Constitution. The second amendment of the Constitution of the United States was of particular importance and necessity during the Revolutionary era due to its significance in the Militia, the people’s need to protect themselves, and as assurance that colonists received the necessary freedoms they fought to achieve. The people of the thirteen colonies during the Revolutionary War, wanted nothing more than freedom from the British crown. As stated in the Declaration of Independence, “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness (Doc. # 4)”. The Americans wanted the innate rights that everyone should be given from birth. These rights were infringed by the British through incidents such as “Taxation without

This amendment, along with others in the Bill of Rights, were proposed in order to ensure that the people would have the innate rights that everyone should have. They served as a reminder to the government that they recently fought a war to attain these rights and taking them away was not an option. Overall, the second amendment was found to be a necessity throughout the Revolutionary era in matters of not only the Militia, but also as a defensive tactic and symbol of innate liberties for the American