F86.2B

F86.2B Headline:**13 Colonies Declare Independence** Dateline:Philadelphia, July 4th, 1776

The Declaration of Independence was written to declare the Thirteen Colonies’ independence from Great Britain. It was written by Thomas Jefferson, a Virginian delegate in the Continental Congress. He wrote the Declaration of Independence in five sections to clarify their reasons for separating from Great Britain. The sections of the document: the Introduction, Preamble, Natural Rights, British Wrongs, and Independence. Thomas Jefferson was also helped by the other committee members chosen to create the Declaration. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were among those who helped Jefferson to write the Declaration. Thomas Jefferson finished writing it and it was looked over by Congress. It was completely accepted and all of the signatures added on July 4th, 1776.

The Declaration of Independence was one of the most important documents in U.S. History. It took place with the second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, and also was broadcasted in New York. Some of the battles in the war led up to the writing of this document. Some of the main places that had to do with the creation were Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. One of the cities, Philadelphia was captured by the British in the war. Independence was a big topic in the war and it was first declared by the small colony of Rhode Island. The U.S. colonies were the first people to win their Independence from Great Britain.

On April 12th, 1775, the North Carolina Assembly was the first colony to empower its representatives who were in the Continental Congress to vote for independence from Great Britain. On May 10th, 1775, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and John Hancock was elected President of the Congress. Late in June of 1776, Thomas Jefferson finished the Declaration of Independence. After that, it was edited and looked over by Congress. After a lot of debate and discussion, their revisions were completed by July 2nd, 1776 and the Declaration of Independence was signed by all representatives on July 4th, 1776.

Why the Declaration of Independence took place is to declare their Independence from Great Britain in a formal document. In the document they say that all political connections with Great Britain have been cut. The reason why is the taxes that had the patriots against British as the fighting with the colonists started the war which made the second Continental Congress decide to write the document. On the way to writing the document Thomas Paine wrote the document called Common Sense, in which it tells the colonists what freedom and independence is. That’s also why they are Patriots. You could also say that a reason why they wrote the declaration of independence was to form a Independent Government from Great Britain, which they ended up doing. They formed a confederation of states and also when they wrote the document they had it read and handed out to people all over the 13 colonies. when we won the war against Great Britain we were the first, now a country to win our Independence from Great Britain by war. So I guess the hard work we put into getting are independence paid off.

Many people took place in the events following up to the Declaration of Independence. The colonists formed their own militias to defend themselves against the British Army. They first fought at Lexington and Concord when the British were surrounded by colonists who heard that the British were in Boston. The leaders of the Continental Congress felt that they needed to hold the Second Continental Congress. They sent a petition to King George of England who mostly taxed on the American colonists. John and Sam Adams, leaders of the Continental Congress, knew that a war was coming. Ethan Allen would be an important part deciding the colonists’ first essential attack. He was known as a Blacksmith and ended up winning fort Ticonderoga from the British. George Washington was the commander of the Continental Army. Close to 6,000 British troops were stationed in Boston. Thomas Paine put in these words “these are the times that try men’s souls.” He would help Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman establish the Declaration of Independence.

There were many different opinions about the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Patriots viewed it as a great victory and now they could prosper peacefully as one nation. The Americans now had their own independent government. Neutralists thought it was a good thing because they don’t care if they are being ruled by the British or even their own country. The Loyalists may be thinking to either move to Britain or even to another piece of open land such as Canada. The Loyalists in Britain could really care less. The British government however is furious that the Americans would make their own independent government. Wars may determine how the Americans live and also how the British may live.


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