T4+-+6.2B

T4 - 6.2B: Jordan Wittig, Julia Meyer, Annie Wilson (Declaration of Independence)

All We Want Is Independence Being independent, being free from England. This is how the Second Continental Congress and many other individuals feel. Just recently, the congress wrote a draft of what they call, The Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson, one of the founders and main drafters of this document, believes that it is time to break away from the English rule. He says, “I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.” This act out against our mother country could be the beginning of our independence.

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence states that the colonies will now declare freedom from the British Parliament. The Second Continental Congress consisted of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson. They brainstormed the idea of this federal document. In the draft he put in over 25 abuses from King George over the last 10 years. The colonists originally wanted to come over to America to be free from the British Government. They didn’t get freedom right away but they feel like they deserve it.

During the writing of this document certain men had purposes for writing and signing it. Many of the men wanted to have freedom and Britain. John Hancock signed the document very big because he wanted to show the King that he was proud of himself, and that he wanted our freedom. Another man, Thomas Jefferson, drafted the Declaration. He took our independence very seriously. Jefferson wanted the citizens of these colonies to be respected, have their own rights, and be independent. To the colonists, their independence meant that they could be an individual.

Many people may be shocked when they hear about where the Second Continental Congress met, to form this document. No one knew that any of this was going on. The Congress met secretly in Philadelphia. They met on the second floor of Independence Hall. Before the Congress met, Thomas Jefferson drafted the document. He had Benjamin Franklin and John Adams edited it. When it was presented to the Congress, they voted and it was approved. At this moment, it is being sent to the King. They hope to soon be their own independent government.

The colonists were taxed on many items for example; paper, tea, and even household items. Britain put a quartering act on all of the colonists. The Military are forced to live with the colonists and the colonists even had to provide everything that they wanted. Even if the colonists didn’t have a lot of money, they still had to provide for them. Colonists were furious and upset Did they not care about their own rights? Or “No Taxation without Representation” said by John Hampden. The colonists didn’t have any freedom to themselves, which they thought was absurd. But when the colonists found out on the news that The Second Continental Congress was writing a new document called, The Declaration of Independence. It took months for it to be published and the colonists were anxious to see what it will be about. Congress was sending it to Britain so they can finally have the freedom that they deserved, and could be relieved.