T6+-+6.2B

T6 - 6.2B Korey Kainec, Dean Hayden, Patrick Rode

On July 4, 1776 56 delegates from each of the 13 colonies signed a document separating us from British rule. These delegates did what they thought would be best for the 13 colonies. There are many events that lead up to the creation of this document and many events that occurred because of it. Among the events leading to the creation of the declaration include the Townshend Act, Tea Act, Sugar Act, Stamp Act and the Intolerable Acts. After the signing of the declaration many of the signers were taken prisoner and prosecuted for treason. Along with this the King of England sent many ships and soldieries causing destruction of towns and the death of many. There were many events that lead up to the signing of the declaration of independence. Some of which are the British and the intolerable act which is when the British stopped our ports from everybody and banned town meeting without permission. Another event is the sugar act this is when the British put taxes on molasses. They also did the stamp act and that put extra taxes on paper products. They also enforced the quartering act which is when the British soldiers were forced in to the homes of the colonist and were forced to feed them and provide for them. Another act is the Townshend act which is when they taxed goods like glass paper silk and tea. These are some of the many grievances made by the king that lead to the signing of the declaration of independence. Fifty-six men, appointed by their fellow citizens of each Colony met on July 4, 1776 in Congress to sign the declaration of independence. Before this happened all 56 men of the second Continental Congress had met many times in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, PA in order to determine the best course of action in revolt to the taxes and laws pressed upon the 13 colonies without any representation or say when parliament passed the laws and taxes. After debating and thinking for many days on the best course of action for their colonies all of the men gathered at the Pennsylvania State House and decided that the best course of action to take to insure the wellbeing of the 13 colonies was to declare their independence from Great Britain. All of the 56 men gathered in the Pennsylvania State House on July 4, 1776 to finally finish and sign the declaration of independence that would be sent to the king of England. When the delegates were creating the declaration they included three main parts. The first section stated a government’s purpose was to protect basic rights. The second section included grievances made by the king. Last the section stated the colonies of America declaring independence as a separate nation from the king. Also the declaration stated "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inaliable right, that amung these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" it also stated "when a long train of abuses and usurpations persue invariably the same object envinces a design to rduce them under absolute despotism it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government and provide new guards for their future security.   The men that signed the declaration knew what would happen to them if they did try to declare independence from the British crown. They would be accused of treason. As it turned out, their fears were right. The British had an array of torture and execution. Five signers were directly tortured before being killed. Twelve of the delegate’s homes were burned only after they were ransacked by the British. The signers weren’t the only ones affected. The British also harmed the delegate’s families. John Hart was driven away from his wife while she was on her deathbed while the children had to run for their survival. Similar abuse was suffered by Lewis Morris and Phillip Livingston. They also imprisoned Francis Lewis’s wife who later died. These men made a noble sacrifice by knowing very well the consequences of signing the declaration to help make a rightful democracy. Many of the delegates felt that these sacrifices were necessary to make a government for the people. So they could become their own independent nation from Britain and its rule. The signing of the declaration was a major priority for the new America and becoming an independent nation from the British rule. These events lead to a lot of bloodshed and gory battles and they did it all because they believed that they that they had rights to become independent and live freely.