In 1775, colonists in North America felt that they were overtaxed and needed to fight for their rights as subjects of the British Crown. The first armed conflict between colonists and British soldiers was in April that year. At first, many believed that Parliament would listen to their grievances and that their differences could be resolved. In October 1775, King George III ordered that more units of the British Navy and Army should be sent to the colonies.
In January 1776, the colonists learned about the King’s decision to send more troops. Thomas Paine wrote “Common Sense” in response to this news and the discussion of whether the colonies should fight for their independence from Britain intensified. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution calling for independence to the Second Continental Congress. On July 2, 1776, representatives from 12 of the 13 colonies accepted the Lee resolution. The colony of New York abstained from the vote. Five men were appointed to a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, but Thomas Jefferson of Virginia was the primary writer.
The Declaration of Independence features five distinct parts. The introduction gives the reasons why it was necessary to seek independence. The Preamble states the principles that everyone believed were inalienable rights. (The Preamble also has become the most quoted part of the Declaration.)
Next Jefferson listed the grievances that the colonists had against the King. Jefferson then discussed that the colonists had unsuccessfully tried to appeal the laws and taxes that the King had imposed on the colonies.
The conclusion stated that there was a dissolution of any political connection between the states and Britain. This formal Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
The Declaration of Independence served three primary purposes. (1.) The document was meant to tell the colonists that they needed to unite to fight for their rights. (2.) It also listed why their actions were justified and (3.) gave formal notice to the King. By asserting that the United States was a separate country, it was hoped that foreign countries would recognize the sovereignty of the United States and assist in their fight for Freedom.
The Constitution did not become effective until 1789 and its first words are “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union.”
During July, we celebrate our freedom as we continue to work to form a more perfect union with liberty and justice for all.
Editor’s FYI / “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The phrase “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” includes three words often considered the most memorable in the Declaration of Independence. But did you know that often-quoted line originally ended with “the pursuit of property”?
As the story goes, the word “property” was favored by George Mason, a Virginia patriot during the American Revolution whose concept of inalienable rights influenced penning the Bill of Rights. Ultimately, Thomas Jefferson, with support of Benjamin Franklin, changed the wording to “happiness” to broaden its interpretation. —PN
