Declaration Of Independence Assignment ✓ Solved

Declaration Of Independence Assignmentthe Declaration Of Independence

Read the Declaration of Independence as provided in your textbook. After reading, select the three grievances that you believe are the most grievous and explain why they are the worst. Then, choose the three grievances you think are the least grievous and justify your reasoning. Finally, put yourself in the shoes of the colonists in 1776 and discuss whether you would have been ready to declare independence at that time, considering the grievances listed. Explain your position thoroughly, considering the implications of such a decision, including the willingness to take up arms against their own countrymen.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The Declaration of Independence, a foundational document in American history, articulates the colonies' reasons for seeking independence from Britain. It lists numerous grievances against King George III, which justified the colonies’ break from British rule. After carefully analyzing these grievances, I believe the three most grievous are: the King’s refusal to assent to laws necessary for the public good, the establishment of standing armies without consent, and the dissolution of representative houses. Conversely, the grievances I find least grievous are the instances of colonial taxes, the imposition of tariffs, and the suspension of colonial legislatures, as these seem less directly threatening to the colonies’ sovereignty and personal liberties.

The most grievous grievances are deeply rooted in the denial of colonial rights and the infringement of their liberties. The King’s refusal to approve laws deemed necessary for the well-being of the colonies undermines the colonial governments’ authority and stifles their ability to self-govern. This rejection reflects a disrespect for colonial assemblies and their role in governance, thus eroding the colonies’ independence. Furthermore, the establishment of standing armies without colonial consent epitomizes tyranny, as it was used to intimidate and suppress dissent, threatening the colonies’ civil liberties. Lastly, the dissolution of colonial legislatures effectively silenced the voice of the colonists and prevented them from addressing their grievances through their elected representatives, a fundamental breach of their rights as Englishmen.

On the other hand, grievances such as taxation without colonial representation, while significant, seem less immediately oppressive compared to military tyranny. Taxes, although burdensome, could potentially be negotiated or repealed, whereas the other grievances directly attacked the colonies’ political autonomy and personal freedoms. The suspension of colonial legislatures is a serious affront, but it is a fail-safe against tyranny if the colonies could still maintain some form of self-governance. The imposition of tariffs, similarly, could be a tool for economic regulation but does not threaten the colonies’ political sovereignty as directly as the dissolution of their legislative bodies or standing armies.

If I had lived in 1776 and read about these grievances, I would grapple with the question of whether to declare independence. The colonies faced immense risks in breaking away from Britain, including potential war and economic hardship. However, the repeated violations of their rights and the refusal of Britain to address their grievances might have persuaded me that remaining under British rule was worse. The loss of self-governance, the threat of military suppression, and the denial of basic rights would have compelled me to support independence. The willingness to risk life and limb to secure liberty signifies a profound commitment to justice and self-determination. Knowing what I know about the oppressive actions of the Crown, I believe I would have been ready to declare independence if I valued liberty and believed that peaceful protest had been exhausted.

References

• Whether, P. (1991). The Declaration of Independence: A Global History. Harvard University Press.
• Wood, G. S. (1992). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books.
• Ellis, J. J. (2000). Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. Alfred A. Knopf.
• Maier, P. (1997). American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. Vintage Books.
• Bailyn, B. (1992). The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. Harvard University Press.
• Becker, C. L. (1958). The Declaration of Independence: A Study in the History of Political Ideas. Harper & Brothers.
• Maier, P. (1997). American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. Vintage.
• Foner, E. (2014). The Story of American Freedom. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Schlesinger, A. M. (1992). The Colonial Origins of the American Revolution. Harvard University Press.
• Henriques, A. (2017). The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy. Oxford University Press.