T7+-+6.2B

T7 - 6.2A Becca Manion, Ari Fadoul, Erin Gallagher (Congress Votes on Independence)

DECLARING INDEPENDENCE FOR THE COLONIES

The Declaration of Independence is the one document that could possibly change the way we all live in the 13 colonies forever. We have many brave men to thank for that. Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called //Common Sense//. The pamphlet explained why we should declare independence from Britain. After reading this, the minds of many people changed on the subject. Between the two months of June and July of 1776, many events happened during the writing and editing of the declaration. Signing the Declaration of Independence came with many consequences. These men risked their lives just by signing the declaration. The patriots all had the same views on the subject, they want independence. The loyalists do not want the colonists to be independent from them. They still want to continue to rule over the colonies. The neutralists do not care if they are independent or not. They do not have a certain side. We may finally be free from Britain’s rule for good.

//Common Sense// is basically what had the most encouragement on the writing of the declaration. A man named Dr. Benjamin Rush had asked his friend, Thomas Paine, to write a pamphlet to urge the colonists to declare independence from Britain. At the time, Patriots were still fighting with the British, but still unsure about declaring their independence. Paine let the colonists know that it was time. January 1776 is when //Common Sense// first appeared. In six months, more than 500,000 copies were sold. George Washington had said, “//Common Sense// is working a powerful change in the minds of men.” During 1776, quite a few colonists started to believe that Parliament did not have the right to make laws for the 13 colonies, but, at the same time, colonists still felt they owed loyalty to Britain, especially the king. Thomas Paine wants to change the attitudes of the colonists toward the king and Britain. He thinks the colonies do not owe loyalty to King George and the idea of having a king and queen is wrong. Here is a quote from his pamphlet: “In England a king hath little more to do than to make war and give away [jobs]; which in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation…of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.”

Before the Declaration of Independence came to be there had to be a lot of preparation leading up to it. In order to create this document, a committee was formed to create the formal Declaration of Independence. This committee was establishing our independence June 1776. June 7th congress met in Philadelphia and received Richard Hennery Lee’s resolution urging congress to declare independence. From June 12th to the 27th is when the first draft was being put together. June 28th is when Jefferson had first presented the draft of the declaration to congress. During the last 4 days the congress debated and revised the Declaration of Independence. This occurred July 1st to July 4th.

It is hard to believe there are so many consequences for simply signing a piece of paper. The Declaration of Independence, as it is called, is a document declaring our independence and freedom from Britian. Many of the signers of this very important document have had to go through a lot, and sadly, some more than others. For example, four signers, George Walton, Thomas Heyward Jr., Arthur Middleton and Edward Rutledge were captured by the British. Those men were eventually released. Also, Richard Stockton of New Jersey was captured and taken prisoner because he was a signer. After being under harsh British confinement he recanted his signature on the declaration and declared his loyalty to King George before he was allowed to be released. There were many hardships for signing this document for all 56 signers.

The Declaration of Independence is the reason for the independence of the colonies. Declaring independence from Britain will change the colonies and our future forever. The men that founded our independence are the ones we should thank for this. The pamphlet //Common Sense// had a big part in the encouragement of writing and declaring independence. This is an explanation of why we should be declaring our freedom from Britain. This pamphlet changed the opinions of many people. During June and July of this year many events occurred. For just signing this document there were many problems the colonists had to face. The lives of these men were risked just by signing the declaration. Twelve of the signers had their homes ransacked and burned and a few were even captured by the British as traitors and were tortured before they died. There were 56 signers of this very important document. This document is in hopes of creating peace throughout the colonies and Britain.