In the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence, it is made clear that the colonists want to be freed from British rule and have the power to rule themselves. The writers of the Declaration claim that in order to secure the "unalienable rights" of life, liberty, and the per suit of happiness, "governments [should be] instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This method of the people governing themselves was not commonly practiced in Europe, especially not in England, and the colonists were seen as very radical in their ideology. The Declaration also states that if "a long train of abuses and usurpations" come along then "it is [the people's] duty to throw off such government." In the first few paragraphs of the Declaration, the colonists outlined the basics of the Democratic system that America still operates under today.
2. List a Handful of Grievances--
-The king quartered "large bodies of armed troops" in colonist homes
-The king taxed colonists without their consent
-The king "plundered [their] seas, ravaged [their] coasts, burned [their] towns and destroyed the lives of [their] people
-The king cut off trade with the American colonies
3. Conclusion
In the concluding paragraphs, the colonies are finally referred to as "The United States of America." Pushing for freedom, the colonists state, "all political connection between [the United Colonies] and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." the two countries would now be "enemies in war, in peace friends" which was proven to be true in later years.
No comments:
Post a Comment