CHAPTER 2 Americans Declare Their Independence

SS.7.C.1.3 Describe how English policies and responses to colonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. SS.7.C.1.4 Analyze the ideas (natural rights, role of government) and complaints set forth in the Declaration of Independence.

Names and Terms You Should Know

King George III Patriot Natural rights Unalienable rights Stamp Act Mercenary “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” Townshend duties Despotism Boycott Tomas Paine Usurpation Quartering troops Tyranny Tomas Jeferson Allegiance Declaration of Independence Petition Grievances

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Chapter19 2 | Americans Declare Their Independence 19 ------ght for the right to to the right for ght f ve mem ve f erson. f ese grievances include the fact ese grievances include T omas Je omas e main author of the declara of author e main T T e colonists were therefore declaring their declaring therefore were e colonists a global had impact, has e Declaration e Declaration announced the Ameri announced e Declaration T T uencing other peoples who wanted to liber to who wanted peoples other uencing T is cleared the way for the Americans to conclude conclude to the Americans for the way cleared is f in of promise imperial rule. Its from themselves ate the realized all at while peoples, not for equality in movements, reform later inspire helped time, women’s abolitionism, cluding the 1950s of Movement the Civil Rights and vote, 1960s. and even by force if necessary; neverthe force (4) that by even and their government change not should people less, lightly. list its by taken up is the Declaration of 15. Much complaints—against grievances—or colonial of declare to justify III, which their decision George independence. their consent, taxed them without the King that suspended in their homes, troops his quartered on war waged and their trade, cut their legislature, the colonists. 16. a as their right announced and independence, alliances. make and war declare to nation sovereign T them in the help to Spain and France with alliances the British. against war 17. 13. A special committee of of 13. A special committee a declaration write to formed berswas this decision justifying and explaining the of the rest to and colonists other to world. was tion 14. that (1) theorycan government: of rights”— certain “unalienable have people happi of liberty the pursuit life, and to the “right govern be (2) that taken away; cannot ness”—that these (3) that rights; protect to created are ments these its rights, tries destroy to when a government government— that change to the right have people - - - - e - - T er er e gov f T red on one one on red f Americans Declare Their Independence

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, urging the colonists to to the colonists , urging e British government was was government e British omas Paine published his his published Paine omas Chapter 2 T T en it passed the Townshend du passeden it the Townshend er the French and Indian War and and War Indian and French the er f T Common er the French and Indian War, the British gov the British War, Indian and er the French e “Boston Tea Party” was a protest to the Tea the Tea to a protest was Party” Tea e “Boston f

ey explained that they did not seek they independence not did that ey explained e had begun. had Revolution e American T Lee’s Resolution proposing independence. proposing Resolution Lee’s 20 pamphlet, pamphlet, seek independence. persuaded the Second Adams 1776, John June 12. In Henry Richard support to Congress Continental a “Declaration on the Necessity of Taking up Arms.” Arms.” up Taking of the Necessity on a “Declaration T King their policies. change to the British wanted but colonists. the with compromise to refused III George 1776, January 11. In 9. British troops and armed colonists colonists armed and troops 9. British 1775. in April Concord and Lexington at another T issued Congress 6, 1775, the Continental July 10. On ed British ships at night and threw its chests of tea tea of chests its threw and night at ships ed British Harbor. Boston into passed and property this destruction of at outraged and Harbor Boston closing Acts,” the “Intolerable legislature. the colonial suspending 6. To prevent colonial unrest, the British govern the British unrest, colonial prevent 6. To America. North to troops more sent ment homes. in colonists’ these troops quartered ernment 7. board Indians, as dressed colonists, of A group Act. 5. Colonists objected that these taxes were all forms of of forms all were taxes these that objected Colonists 5. assemblies Colonial representation.” without “taxation and laws, these change to Parliament to petitions sent protest. goods in British boycotted colonists tempt totempt obtain consentcolonists’ (agreement). British passed the Stamp Act, but repealed it a protests. colonial those. repealed but goods, other and glass taxing ties, Act. passed the it Tea Finally, colonial responses led to the American Revolution. American the to led responses colonial 2. A large borrowed had It debt. in deeply was ernment passed Parliament war. the for pay to money of sums at no made but tax to the colonists, laws a series of Florida “Keys” to Learning to “Keys” Florida a policies 1. British © FTE • Unlawful to photocopy without permission n the last chapter, you learned how England estab- enjoyed some unique powers of self-government. Ilished thirteen colonies in North America. Tese Each colony had its own legislature, which resolved colonists enjoyed the same rights as people in Great many local problems. Te colonies were simply too Britain. Tey had all the rights given by Magna Carta far from England for many important decisions to be and the English Bill of Rights. Te colonists also made there.

The French and Indian War

In 1754, Britain went to war with France. Tis con- Te American colonists were pleased with this out- fict became known in America as the French and come. Tey no longer had to worry about defending Indian War. France eventually lost the war and themselves against the French and their Indian was forced to surrender its colonies in North allies. On the other hand, the British government America. Canada and the Ohio River Valley came found itself deeply in debt. It had borrowed large under British rule. sums of money to pay for the war.

Taxation without Representation

People living in Britain were already paying more in the law. But the British government still needed to taxes than the colonists in North America. Te Brit- collect money from the colonists. Parliament there- ish government therefore decided that the colonists fore passed a series of new taxes, known as the should pay more towards their own defense. Parlia- Townshend duties. Tese placed a new tax on ment passed a series of laws to tax the colonists. Since paper, paint, glass, lead and tea. Tese common the colonies were so far from London, no attempt goods were shipped to the colonies from Britain. was made to obtain their consent (agreement). Once again, Parliament passed these duties without Te frst of these laws was the Stamp Act, passed in the consent of the colonists. Members of Parliament 1765. Tis act required every ofcial document, still felt that the colonists were just too far away to newspaper or pamphlet in the colonies to have an consult with them. expensive government stamp. Could the colonists have had Te colonists were greatly angered by the Stamp their own representatives in Act. Tey objected that this was “taxation without © FTE • Unlawful to photocopy without permission Parliament? At a time when representation.” Colonists held marches and rallies crossing the Atlantic was slow, against the Stamp Act. Colonial assemblies sent any colonial representatives in petitions (formal requests) to Parliament to change London would soon have been the law. Colonists boycotted (refused to buy) British out of touch with the colonists goods. Protestors held a special “Stamp Act Con- they represented. Colonial gress” in New York City. Some angry colonists even leaders did not want to be captured government tax collectors and poured hot represented in Parliament. tar and placed feathers on them. Instead, they wanted to make Te British government was taken by surprise by their own laws, including the number of protests against the Stamp Act. Par- those on taxation, in their own Colonists harrassing liament acted quickly to repeal (cancel; withdraw) colonial assemblies. a British tax collector

Chapter 2 | Americans Declare Their Independence 21 Te colonists formed special committees to protest against the Townshend duties. To prevent unrest, the British government sent more troops to North America. More than 4,000 soldiers were sent to Bos- ton alone. Te government quartered these troops in colonists’ homes. To “quarter” means to send soldiers to live in private citizens’ homes. Te home- owner was expected to provide food and lodging to each soldier free of charge. Parliament fnally repealed the hated Townshend Colonists dressed as Indians throw tea into Boston Harbor duties. However, it passed a new tax on tea in their place. A British ship carrying tea arrived in Boston Harbor in December 1773. A group of colonists,

© FTE • Unlawful to photocopy without permission Intolerable Acts. Boston Harbor was closed. Te dressed as American Indians, boarded the ship at Massachusetts legislature was suspended (tempo- night and threw its chests of tea into the harbor in rarily closed). Te British government assumed the protest. Tis event became known as the “Boston power to appoint all ofcials in Massachusetts until Tea Party.” the tea was paid for. Royal ofcials would no longer Te British government was greatly outraged at this be tried for crimes in the colonies, but in Great destruction of property. Parliament passed the Britain.

The Outbreak of the Revolution

Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent representatives Philadelphia. The Second Continental Congress to Philadelphia to meet as a “Continental Con- began its meetings on May 10, 1775. Most of the gress” in September 1774. Te Congress assembled, delegates from the other colonies strongly sup- sent protests to Britain, and agreed on a colonial ported the decision of Massachusetts to resist the boycott of British goods. Its members decided that British. They encouraged the other colonies to another Continental Congress should be held in join in the struggle. May 1775. Ten they went home. Te Continental Congress Meanwhile, American “Patriots” organized in Bos- formed its own army, known as ton. Tey collected guns and ammunition. Te the “Continental Army.” Next Governor of Massachusetts sent soldiers to seize it chose George Washing- colonial leaders and arms just outside Boston. Brit- ton, a Virginian, to ish troops and armed colonists fred on one another command it. Washing- at Lexington and Concord in April 1775. Te ton was an experienced American Revolution had begun! commander from the French and Indian War. The Second Continental Congress was about to meet. Many of the delegates to the Second Conti- nental Congress were already on their way to George Washington, age 40

22 Chapter 2 | Americans Declare Their Independence The Question of American Independence

Even afer the outbreak of fghting, most colonists Great Britain. Paine urged the colonists to seek still wanted to remain as British subjects. Many of independence. them had relatives in Great Britain. Others traded In March 1776, General Washington and his goods with Britain. Most saw themselves as loyal troops drove the British out of Boston. Washing- subjects of the King, who were resisting the unfair ton then moved his army to New York City. How- policies of his ministers. ever, with the help of their feet of ships, the British On July 6, 1775, the Continental Congress issued a were able to land troops on nearby Long Island. “Declaration on the Necessity of Taking Up Arms.” Washington lost battles on Long Island and in Te purpose of this document was to explain why New York City that summer and fall. Washington the colonists were resisting the British government. retreated across the Delaware River, but was able Te declaration contained a long list of colonial to defeat British forces in December 1776 at the grievances. But it emphasized that the colonists Battle of Trenton. were not seeking independence: “We have not raised armies with ambitious designs of separating Most colonists now felt that Britain had abused from Great Britain and establishing Independent them. Tey disliked British taxes, placed on them States.” Two days later, the Continental Congress without their consent. Even more, they resented the sent a petition to the King of Great Britian. Te col- use of armed force. More and more colonists agreed onists asked the King for reconciliation and peace. with Tomas Paine that they should end their con- nection with Great Britain. Tey wanted to free King George III refused to receive the colonists’ themselves from British rule. petition. Instead, he told Parliament that the colo- nies were in open rebellion. Te King accused the Many colonists also believed that they could not colonists of planning to separate from Britain. Par- obtain allies (countries that agree to act together) in liament passed an act prohibiting all trade with the Europe so long as they remained subjects of the Brit- colonists until the rebellion was crushed. Te King ish King. Only by becoming independent could they declared the rebellious colonists to be outside of the ever hope to conclude alliances with foreign powers, scope of his protection. All American ships, ports like France and Spain. Tey needed the help of these and sailors became subject to capture and forfeit. foreign powers to win the war. Te Second Continental Congress began debating Te King also sent more troops to America to fght © FTE • Unlawful to photocopy without permission the colonists. His forces included foreign merce- the question of American independence naries—hired soldiers—from Germany. Tese steps early in 1776. greatly infuriated the colonists. John Adams, a lawyer from Massa- In January 1776, Tomas Paine chusetts, was the strongest voice for published his pamphlet, Com- independence. Adams persuaded mon Sense. As you learned in the many of the other delegates to vote last chapter, Paine argued that in favor of separating from the colonists received little ben- England. eft from their connection with John Adams

Chapter 2 | Americans Declare Their Independence 23 In June 1776, , a Virginian, introduced a resolution proposing independence:

Resolved, Tat these United Colonies are, and of right Word Helper A ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolve = to release or set free absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and allegiance = loyalty to a superior that all political connection between them and the British Crown = the King State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally connection = a link or formal association dissolved. dissolved = ended or eliminated

A special committee of fve members was formed to Adams and . Jeferson wrote the write a declaration explaining and justifying this frst draf of the Declaration using parts of other © FTE • Unlawful to photocopy without permission decision to other colonists and to the rest of the documents he had written earlier for Virginia and world. A young Virginian, Tomas Jeferson, was the Continental Congress. Te Declaration was later the main author of the frst draf of the Declaration. revised by the committee and then by the Continen- Two other members of the committee were John tal Congress itself.

The Active Citizen

Imagine it is early in 1776. Your class should be divided into diferent groups, representing the difer- ent colonies at the Second Continental Congress. Hold a debate on whether or not the colonies should declare their independence from Great Britain. Ten take a class vote.

The Declaration of Independence

You probably have already heard of the Declaration 2. It proclaimed a theory of government based on of Independence. It was signed on July 4th—still natural law and the protection of individual rights. our national holiday. Every year we celebrate the 3. It listed the grievances of the colonists against signing of the Declaration with parades, speeches King George III and the British government. and freworks. But what makes this document so very special to Americans? 4. It justifed the conduct of the colonists, both to their fellow countrymen and to the rest of the Te Declaration of Independence actually accom- world. plished fve things: 5. It announced the arrival of the 1. It declared American independence. It boldly as an independent and equal member of the stated that the colonies were no longer part international community, able to wage war of the British Empire, and that the former and to make alliances. Tis cleared the way for colonists were no longer subjects of King the former colonies to conclude alliances with George III. France and Spain.

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