Declaration Of Independence Dbq

The United States was not created in a day, and it didn’t have a peaceful foundation either. The French and Indian war took a great toll on Britain. Although gaining much from the Treaty of Paris, Britain was in a financial crisis from all the resources it spent on war campaigns. As a result George Grenville implanted the stamp act which taxed American colonists without their consent. The stamp act outraged Americans causing protests and further separation from Britain. Ideologies from John Locke, outcries from Patrick Henry, and Thomas Paine’s arguments against monarchy contributed to the idea of life, liberty and property that would later be incorporated to the Declaration of Independence and separate America from the British Empire.

Thomas Paine’s common sense would be one of the final pushes that encouraged the Continental Congress to approve the Declaration of Independence.
The French and Indian war contributed to American independence. The war began in 1754 in North American but Britain did not formally declare war until 1756. It started when the British tried to remove French colonists from Fort Duquesne but failed. Following that there were a number of military campaigns. What did happen from the war was a surplus of military recruits joining the British army. As the war continued the Iroquois allied themselves with Britain. Although Britain gained quite a bit of land from the Treaty of Paris February 10th 1763, Great Britain had to enact “New imperial policies designed to pay for war debts and increased administrative costs and to control Great Britain's enlarged empire led to conflict with the colonists and eventually to the American Revolution.” (Patrick, Christine Sternberg). The French and Indian war was a gateway to American civil unrest, it started a chain reaction that led to American independence.
George Grenville made the choice to gain extra revenue from America to pay for British debts caused by the French and Indian war. George Grenville war born October 14, 1712. He received an education from Christ Church in Oxford and became a lawyer. Later in 1763 he became prime minister. George Grenville was widely known as the man who implemented the stamp act. “Unfortunately, for Grenville who was certainly a capable politician he will best be remembered for the Stamp Act of 1765 which is often considered the spark that began the American Revolution.” (Smith Rebellion 1765). Benjamin Franklin offered a plan that would not require taxing the colonists but as we know, George Grenville went with the stamp tax instead. King George III removed George Grenville from office in July 1765.
The stamp act was implemented was implemented in November 1, 1765. The stamp act was essential for starting the American Revolution. The stamp act imposed tax on printed materials, materials such as legal documents and newspapers. What outraged Americans was the British implemented the stamp act without their consent. From this it inspired groups such as the sons of liberty, they actively protested against the politicians that supported the stamp act. America was used to being self-governed, so when George Grenville implanted his imperial reform he was going against a well-established system the colonists believed in. This had consequences for the empire, such as the creation of the first continental congress. The continental congress was composed of representatives from the twelve colonies, and demanded that the Coercive Acts be repealed. The Stamp act forced the colonists to establish the continental congress because they had a right to life, liberty and property.
The stamp act produced many patriots many of which cried out for life, liberty, and property.

Patriots such as Patrick Henry said “Give me liberty, or give death.” He tried to convince his audience at the Virginia assembly that they can fight the British but it means a call to action and hoping for a nonviolent answer means further subjugation by the British. He believes that together they are powerful. John Locks Second Treatise was further inspiration to what would be the Declaration of Independence and sovereignty from the British. John Locke points out how we are born equal, and as a people we are not to harm other but have the right to protect ourselves. He argues that the government does not have the right to take property without the consent of the body politick. The stamp act was in contradiction to what the people wanted, and it impeded on their rights as a human such as their basic liberties. There were a number of contributing factors such as Thomas Pains arguments that finally led to the Declaration of Independence. Life, liberty and property was revised to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by Thomas Jefferson. “By linking these doctrines of individual liberty, popular sovereignty, and republican government with American independence, Jefferson established them as the defining political values of the new nation.” (Henretta). Although a newly formed nation, America still had to face the British

directly.
Life, liberty, and justice played a crucial role in forming American independence but it was in part thanks to Thomas Paine that the idea of independence spread throughout America. Thomas Paine attacks the idea of a monarchy. In the first section called “Of the Origin and Design of Government in general, with concise Remarks on the English Constitution” Thomas Paine there is a difference between society and government, and that the government is a necessary evil for an otherwise paradise. The society creates a government out of need, but they hold elections and make fair laws. Paine says this is the best balance for a society and government to be in.
Through many tribulations the United States was a newly formed nation. Britain was a country on the rise, it achieved victory against the French in the French and Indian war but used to many resources in to many war campaigns. Britain’s prime minster George Grenville thought he could alleviate Britain’s financial situation by taxing the America colonies. America wanted to be self-governed and protested the imperial reform that was taking its rights away. Great men that were involved in the patriot movement created the Continental Congress that adhered by the ideology of life, liberty, and pursuit of property. Thomas Jefferson used that as a template for the Declaration of Independence, finally removing themselves from the British Empire and gaining independence.