Declaration Of Independence Dbq

The second continental congress was signing an important document on the July of 1776, that will forever change the aspects of how the English Colonies (Now the United States of America) would function as an independent nation. If I were I be there, I would fully support and sign the document, based on its political and economic reasons. This founding document was to be known as the Declaration of Independence.

One of the reasons I would sign the Declaration is because, the british offense of “Virtual Representation” had to be discontinued from the colonies. This was a problem in the eyes of the colonists because they were being governed by the British parliament. Claiming that all british subject would be represented by a member of the parliament, the colonials weren’t happy with this. The american colonials were being represented by someone they never voted for! Which lead to the taxation toward the colonies such as the Stamp Act of 1765, and the Tea Act of 1773. The americans wanted to be managed by a representative of their choosing, preferably sending one over to England, but due to the distance between the lands, it wasn’t much

of an option. This lead to the american saying of “No Taxation without Representation,” meaning “No representation in parliament, no taxation by parliament.”

Another reason why I would sign the Declaration of independence is because, mercantilism was turning the american colonies into a direction it didn’t want to be in.

The british the colonies to be able to trade only with them, resulting to colonies to have “enormous trade restrictions.” The navigation acts for instance, forced the colonies to become more dependent of britain, than what they already were. The Staple act of 1663, led all the english ships to pass through british ports, which they were later “inspected and taxed,” then sent out to the colonies, this gave more profit to the british crown. Later the British revealed the Molasses Act of 1733, which posed more taxes on the molasses, sugar and rum imports from other non-british colonies. Colonials felt as if they were being cornered, which lead to the fight of

revolution.

A Final reason why I would sign the Declaration of Independence is because, natural rights had to be given to the american colonists in order to “survive” and “thrive” in the colonies.
The natural rights would allow the people to live as how they would want to live, or self-govern. The american colonists were definitely tired of being ruled by the british parliament, in a way that the colonies had “no word” on the decision made by the parliament. The colonies tried to negotiate with the parliament, to have a representative of their choosing, to settle down the abuse the British had towards them. But the British crown refused. Which eventually later lead to the act of revolution against the crown and the formation of natural rights. The american colonies declared that they wanted to be free of parliament rule, and be able to “self-govern” ( ). Also, Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration, the unalienable rights, rights that cannot be “given or taken away.” Guaranteed rights, “by birth and by nature,” that let the people live life, have liberty and have the pursuit of happiness (). The British crown had bullied the american colonies, and the colonists had had enough of it.

Thus, Virtual Representation, Mercantilism, and the need of Natural Rights, led the American colonists to break free of the British parliament rule. An important decision indeed, without this decision, America, perhaps even the world wouldn’t be the great place it is today. If I were to be in the Second Continental Congress, in time to sign the Declaration of Independence, I will absolutely do so!