Introduction
Dear brother, it is the most anticipated day in American history, and the event of this day is unlike other years we have fought for the liberation of this great nation. I am writing from Westmoreland, the last new county created before the Revolution, located West of the Allegheny Mountains in the Province of Pennsylvania. It is my pleasure, as a patriot, that Pennsylvania became the military, economic, and political hub by the eve of the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence came at a price, but Americans are now free.
History Behind the Declaration of Independence
It had become apparent that Americans wanted freedom because England was suppressing the colonies. Tyranny and sovereignty do not mix, so certain factions had to give way as political tensions rose nationwide. Americans had to choose between giving in to the oppression and standing against it to break free from colonialist control.
Therefore, the Declaration of Independence had to be signed and delivered to the King of England. It lays five incredibly profound principles that lay the foundation for our opposition to tyranny. These reasoned ideologies state that 1) all men are created equal, 2) our rights come from God, 3) every person has the right to live, be free, and own property, and 4) the purpose of the government is to protect our God-given rights, and 5); if it fails to protect these rights, we the responsibility to instate new government (National Archives, n.d.). Therefore, for the sake of freedom, the American people were forced to break away from England’s control.
Economic and social suppression were the other factors that prompted people to seek independence by force, leading to the Declaration of Independence. Generally, tension had been rising in the American colonies for years, and the emotions hit a tipping point in 1776. The second Continental Congress was already in session in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when the cries for independence grew too fierce to ignore.
The journey under the colonial rulers had been brutal, creating political animosity. For example, one cannot forget the Stamp Act of 1765, the Boston Massacre of 1770, and the Revolutionary War of 1775 (Corbett et al., 2014). In addition, the frustration and anger towards the British for imposing taxes without representation was the epitome of the unjust colonial system.
The culture that led to the founding of the United States had been building for centuries since the first British settlement arrived on the shores. What started as a tiny group of struggling settlers had developed into 13 thriving, angry colonies tired of being taxed by the English crown. Therefore, I believe fighting for self-determination was inevitable at this point.
The Declaration of Independence was the best course of action because it was a progressive document that served as a revolutionary statement. The Continental Congress debate was a unified position concerning the hostility lashed against the original inhabitants. It was no longer feasible to tolerate division based on class because our creator endows us with certain unalienable rights. Typically, the Declaration established a philosophical basis for a civil democracy in which all persons are guaranteed rights by virtue of their personhood. Finally, the people of the nation can be free and make their own decisions.
Since I advocate for the patriot group, rebellion against the British was the best course of action as America and Britain waged war. The previous empathetic King George had lost his patience with the war, which was advancing longer than expected (Corbett et al., 2014). He lamented the British soft approach to the American colonies as a sign of weakness and ordered the might of his army to bear down on his rebellious subjects.
The official release of the proclamation of rebellion and the freezing of American assets implied that dialogue was never an option. Contrary to common belief, the British sought reinforcement from Germans and Asians, indicating a complex web of political and diplomatic ties (Corbett et al., 2014). Nonetheless, I believe the rebels in America had taken arms in response to the unfair measures taken against them.
The continued attack on America signaled King George’s obsession with regaining control of a people committed to achieving their freedom. Despite failing to crush the colonial armies, the series of British raids was peculiar, especially in its attempt to coerce the Americans into withdrawing the Declaration of Independence to restore peace. Despite glaring defeats at some point during the war, the King urged his commanders to fight as if nothing had changed (Corbett et al., 2014). It was clear the empire could not reasonably sustain the costs of reinforcement, supplies, and funds required to prolong its efforts and vanquish the rebellion. In my opinion, the decision to go to war rather than surrender was pivotal in achieving official independence.
Conclusion
As I conclude, I believe that declaring independence was a genuine demonstration of courage and determination to gain freedom as a nation. The political, economic, and social oppression meted out against the locals was inhumane, defeated morals, and exploited the locals. Therefore, it was apparent that people took reactive measures to liberate themselves from suppression, unfair taxation, and control by the colonial masters.
References
Corbett, S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T. J., Vickery, P. S., & Waskiewicz, S. (2014). U.S. history (pp. 85–163). Xanedu.
National Archives. (n.d.). Declaration of Independence. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.