The Declaration of Independence is the historic document in which the American Colonies declared their freedom from the United Kingdom. This being a bold maneuver truly making a statement to the Crown of King George III. Though the populace was far from unanimous, the decision to create and present the document was decided by the Second Continental Congress, on a proposal by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, due to the events from the preceding decade of tension between the colonies and the United Kingdom.

There were several events leading up to the meeting of the Continental Congress. Taxation without representation was to be the main argument of the Americans. The Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Acts of 1767, and the Tea Act of 1773 created much animosity between the colonists and the Parliament. The leadership of the United Kingdom felt as if the colon

The 5th of September, 1774 the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to discuss a plan for resistance. Every colony sent representatives except for Georgia. The representatives believed as most of their constituents, that they should remain as subjects to the Crown. However, they hoped that King George III would resolve the differences between themselves and the Parliament. They would receive no avail from the King, and this infuriated them further.

ists owed the taxes for the defense and war recovery of the previous conflicts on American soil. The Americans, though feeling loyal to the Crown, felt as if they should have representatives in the Parliament if they were to pay taxes. Thus the division was made, and armed conflict was to be imminent.

The basic principals of the Declaration of Independence was derived from an English philosopher named John Locke. The first is that government exists for the people, and should therefore be run by the people. The second is that when a government turns to tyranny, then the people have the right to resist and change the government. The third principal is that “all men are created equal”, and that they have the power to control the change the class from which they were born. The final contribution from the writings of John Locke was that all people of a society have the right to protection of the law and the right to participate in the creation of the laws. These teachings still serve today as the basics of democracy for our nation and many others that which have followed.

The Declaration of Rights followed with more basic human dignities. The Right to Life, the right to defend ones self against physical attack and against an unjust government. The Right to Liberty, which included the right to religious worship and to criticize the government. And the Pursuit of happiness meant the right to own property and to safeguard it. It also meant the right to strive for personal gain as well as the good for all people. The declaration then stated that government exists to protect the rights of the people, and that governments only receive power from the people.

The Preamble was nothing more than a statement giving the right to the colonies to make such a declaration. It in its self was a bold way of saying for all people,

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