Prelude to
The Declaration of Independence
In 1763 Great Britain won the French and Indian war, expanding their territory in North America. King George III and Parliament felt the need to establish their control over the land and pay their war debts by taxing the colonies. Through a series of acts (The Sugar Act—1764; the Townshend Acts—1767; and the Tea Act—1773), they taxed the colonists and over-regulated trade.
The colonists were unhappy with these measures. They felt that since they were not allowed any representation in Parliament, they shouldn’t be subject to taxes by Parliament. They tried to send a message to the king, first through peacefully protest, petition, committees and boycotts.
When their government repeatedly ignored their concerns, they increasingly turned to more destructive actions like the Boston Tea Party—1774.
King George III was furious at the colonists rebellion and worked with the Parliament to enact punishment through legislation that would become known as the “Intolerable Acts."
Recognizing the need to be united in their resistance, Americans organized an inter-colonial congress. Representatives met in Philadelphia in September 1774 in what became known as the First Continental Congress. Twelve of the thirteen colonies were present (Georgia did not attend).
By September 5, 1775, the group drafted the Articles of Association which stated that if Great Britain did not repeal the Intolerable Acts by December 1, 1774, they would implement a boycott of all British goods. They also threatened an embargo on exports if the acts were not repealed by September 10, 1775.
By October 26, 1775, they sent a formal petition to King George III outlining their grievances and demanding the same rights afforded to all other English citizens. They concluded the meeting after agreeing to reconvene on May 10, 1775 if no reconciliation had been reached.
The mother-land didn’t budge and colonists felt the increasing effects of the unfair taxation and trade restrictions until they couldn’t stand it. Some colonists produced and distributed leaflets calling for separation from Great Britain. Others prepared to fight. For several months, tensions continued to rise, and both sides felt the imminence of war.
Hoping to put down the rebellion, the British planned to seize the “Colony Stores” of ammunition and weapons in Concord. Word got out (thanks to Dr. Joseph Warren, Paul Revere, Robert Newman, and others), and the red coats were met with resistance. First in Lexington, then in Concord, Massachusetts. Neither side backed down and the first battles of the Revolution began on April 19, 1775.
King George III
refused to listen to the American Colonists.
As scheduled, the Second Continental Congress commenced on May 10, 1775. This time all 13 colonies were present. Despite their united opposition to the crown, many colonists had concerns about separating. They doubted whether they were strong enough to resist the most powerful army in the world.
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After two months of drafts and deliberation the congress sent an Olive-Branch Petition to the King as one last attempt at reconciliation. King George responded by sending 20,000 British troops as well as German mercenaries to bolster his military presence.
The response caused even the most reluctant representatives of the congress to recognize that war with Great Britain was unavoidable. They concluded that they needed military support from France but would not get it without declaring independence. Before approaching France, they knew they had to unite the colonists they represented.
On January 10, 1776 Thomas Paine anonymously published a book titled Common Sense. With clear arguments and persuasive prose, he convinced many Americans to embrace the cause of independence.
Richard Henry Lee delegate from Virginia, proposed a plan for breaking ties with Great Britain and a committee was formed to draft a declaration of independence.
Drafting the Declaration
The five-member group included John Adams (MA), Benjamin Franklin (PA), Robert Livingston (NY), Roger Sherman (CT) and Thomas Jefferson (VA).
Thomas Paine
wrote Common Sense to persuade colonists to embrace independence.
The committee selected its youngest member, Thomas Jefferson, to compose the document. Reflecting on the experience Jefferson recalled that the other members of the committee “unanimously pressed on myself alone to undertake the draught [sic]. I consented; I drew it; but before I reported it to the committee I communicated it separately to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams requesting their corrections…I then wrote a fair copy, reported it to the committee, and from them, unaltered to the Congress.”
After he drafted the Declaration of Independence,
Thomas Jefferson
sought input from Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.
When the congress reconvened on July 1, 1776, they adopted the first part of Lee’s resolution and asked the committee to present their draft. Discussion led to a few alterations and deletions, but the majority of the document remained unchanged.
Outline of the Declaration of Independence
Introduction- explains the “causes” that made it necessary for the American colonists to break from the British Empire.
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Preamble- Lists “self-evident” principles and claims “their right…(and) duty, to throw off” tyrannical government and “provide new Guards for their future security.”
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Body
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Lists the “long train of abuses and usurpations” piled on the colonists by King George III.
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Describes how they had appealed in vain for a redress of their grievances.
Conclusion- sums up that "these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved."
Adopting the Declaration
On the evening of July 4, the Second Continental Congress adopted it as the Declaration of Independence and rushed the document to the printer. The next morning copies were given to members of the Congress who immediately began to distribute them to their respective assemblies, conventions and committees of safety. Other copies were sent to the commanders of the Continental Army.
Just five days later (July 9) all 13 colonies had approved of the Declaration, and Congress ordered that it be “fairly engrossed on parchment, with the title and stile [sic] of ‘The unanimous declaration of the thirteen United States of America,’ and the same, when engrossed, be signed by every member of Congress.”
After being adopted July 4, 1776 by the The Second Continental Congress, delegates took copies to their colonies for ratification, and The Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776.
engross - To copy in a large hand; to write a fair, correct copy, in large or distinct, legible characters, for preservation or duration; as records of public acts, on paper or parchment.
Signing the Declaration of Independence
The engrossing was completed and on August 2, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 members of Congress. As President of the Congress, it is presumed that John Hancock signed first. His signature stands out as the largest on the document. According to legend Hancock said that the reason he had signed his name so large and clear was so that “King George could read it without his spectacles.”
Note: The signed parchment copy now resides at the National Archives in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, alongside the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
God in the Declaration of Independence
God is referenced four times in the Declaration of Independence:
"Nature's God" (paragraph 1)
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"Creator" (paragraph 2)
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"the Supreme Judge" (last paragraph)
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"divine Providence" (last paragraph)
The Founding Fathers knew that God is the ultimate source of all power and authority. They cited Him as the authority which allowed them to separate from Great Britain. True power comes from God. Governments derive their power from God, but history continues to prove that in the hands of men, "power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely" (Lord Acton--John Emerich Edward Dalberg--Letter to Archbishop Mandell Creighton, Apr. 5, 1887). Because of this fact governmental authority must be distributed into separate powers to avoid tyranny. The U.S. Constitution built on the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence. The following video from Hillsdale College explains more: