Declaration Of Independence Essay, Research Paper

1. Give a brief description of following events that led to the ratification of the Declaration of Independence: The Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Acts of 1767, and the Boston Tea Party of 1773.

The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first major controversy between Great Britain and its North American colonies began over the Stamp Act. The act placed tax on all paper products. Britain felt the act was justified, since it needed money to support military undertakings in North America. The colonist saw no justification at all. Protests soon followed, ranging from refusal to buy the stamps to full-out riots. The colonists objected to the tax because they were not represented in Parliament. In 1766 Parliament repealed the act and issued the Declaratory Act.

The Townshend Acts of 1767 were introduced by Charles Townshend. The acts called for a series of levies on glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea imported into the colonies. The colonist responded to this levy with boycotts of British goods. In 1768, the Townshend Acts were reformed.

The Boston Tea Party of 1773 was brought on when the British Parliament had given total control over the importing and selling of tea to the British East India Company. This angered the colonial merchants, and they refused to pay the import taxes on tea. To prevent the British from auctioning-off the tea and getting the fee, the Sons of Liberty dumped the tea into the Boston Harbor. The British responded to this by passing the Intolerable Act.

Each of theses acts made the colonist want to break away from Great Britain. The colonists did not like all of the taxes imposed on them by the British; therefore, the colonists wanted to break away from England so that they could form a government for the way they wanted it to be.

2. Who were the five members of the Committee appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence?

The five members of the Committee were Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, John Adams, and Robert Livingston.

Who ended up writing the Declaration?

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration.

Who edited it?

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams edited the Declaration.

What are the three parts of the Declaration?

The introduction-Preamble, states that the document would declare the causes for the colonies split from the British Empire. The body divided into two sections. The first section gives evidence of the abuse and usurpations by George III. The second section states that the colonists had appealed in vain to the British for independence with no results.

3. How was the Committee’s draft received by the members of Congress?

The Congress as a whole excepted the draft, but they wanted some things to be dropped and some to be changed.

What were the two most significant changes made by the representatives?

One of the changes was the part about George III being responsible for slavery and the slave trade. They also changed other things, which was not available.

Why didn’t Jefferson and others fight harder against these changes?

They did not fight harder because they knew if they did the declaration would not be agreed upon and the independence would not happen.

4. A. What are the three unalienable rights voted in the Declaration?

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

What does unalienable mean?

Not able of being alienated or being transferred to a new owner.

B. What is the premise, the founding principle upon which the Declaration is based and upon which the separation from England is justified?

The premise of the Declaration is founded upon the bases independence. The colonists wanted to be free of unfair taxation without representation in Parliament. They wanted a chance to start a government in which the people had say over what would happen in their town. The Declaration was just the document stating the cause for the declaring of independence.

C. How many representatives gave their signed consent to the Declaration on July 4 1776?

Fifty-six people gave their signed consent.

List the thirteen colonies.

Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.