Declaration of Independence the Issuing

Declaration of Independence

The issuing of the Declaration of Independence marked the last part of British dominion over American colonies. This came as a result of a series of events which convinced Americans that they are better off being independent, and, that if they want to be free both physically and mentally they need to be separate from the British.

The path that led to the Declaration of Independence was laid in 1760, when George III became King of England. Once the French power was eliminated, in 1763, the Americans become more trustful their own forces. Because of the war spending, Parliament needed to raise taxes on the revenue of the colonies. and, as a result, the Stamp Act was born-on March 22, 1765. This legislation irritated the colonies, and most of them sent representatives to a congress in New York on October 19, 1765. It was disputed because of its unconstitutional character and Americans expressed their disagreement with the concepts it put across. Only nine colonies came to represent the Americans in the Stamp Act and eventually came to form the first federal government in the United States. On March 18, 1766, the legislation concerning the taxes on the Americans' revenue -- the Stamp Act-was canceled. The colonists said that if this legislation continued to be applied, it "would be attended with much inconveniency, and may be productive of consequences greatly detrimental to the commercial interests of these kingdoms" (Dumbauld 4). The Act proclaimed that the British have power over the colonies, and that the colonies can't vote or make orders. The implication of the colonies in Parliament was considered null, due to the unquestionable power of the British.

Charles Townshend proposed a series of decrees in which he claimed that it was essential for Americans to have their tax on income increased. He said that through this program the salaries of judges and governors can be raised so they can be independent of colonial law. Another purpose of his laws was to improve the trade industry. Corresponding with Charles' laws, the New York province needed to be penalized because it did not act in accordance with the Quartering Act of 1765. Although the Stamp Act was revoked, Charles considered that the British Parliament had all the rights to ask for greater taxes from the colonies.

Due to these acts, and because of the many others that followed, the colonies proclaimed their independence. On July 2 the Philadelphia Convention had its motion of independence implemented. The state's representatives wanted to emphasize their decision of breaking from the Mother Country, so they presented the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was the one who drafted this act. His ideas were not new; he was inspired in his political philosophy by the John Locke and a series of other continental philosophers. He was only responsible for sorting out the philosophy in obvious truths, and made a list of complaints against the king, for this action to be justified before the world (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html).

Its main content was about George III's legislation. In the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson is saying that England's legislation is null. New settlers were no longer allowed to come to America or take over a Native American land. The constant presence of English soldiers, and the statute that they had in the colonies was not right from a moral standpoint. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson claims that the colonies tried to inform the king regarding the unfairness in his system of laws, only to learn that he was determined to exploit them to the fullest. The Declaration was adopted on 4 of July 1776, and this day is celebrated as the Independence Day. The Declaration of Independence had not only set Americans free, but also had a big influence on the world as a whole.