| Term Paper Title | The Declaration Of Independence |
| # of Words | 1402 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) | 5.61 |
The Declaration of Independence
From May 8,1776, to July 4,1776, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Independence Hall or the Pennsylvania State House. They were discussing whether they should declare independence from Britain or not. Some of the people wanted independence because Britain was placing unfair taxes, like the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and the Townsend Acts on the colonists. Britain also placed the Declatory Act of 1776 saying that Parliament could pass laws that were legally binding to the colonies. Even though the colonists had no representation in Parliament, Britain was still taxing them. The colonists believed in "no taxation, without representation." In the colony of Massachusetts the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and the Battle of Bunker Hill all happened during that time and was a major part in history. After the Boston Tea Party Britain placed the Intolerable Acts on the colonists. Britain was trying to punish the colonies with those acts. Other people wanted peace, or reconciliation, with Britain. They were scared that they would be charged with treason.
John Adams, a delegate from Massachusetts was the leader in the fight for Independence. John Adams said "The colonies association with Britain had grown intolerable-crippling taxes and abolished rights" Since he lived in Boston he witnessed the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the effects of the Intolerable Acts, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and the Battle of Bunker hill. John Adams wasn’t the man to propose independence because he was disliked, obnoxious, impatient, out spoken and no one would listen to him. He was one of the best people to argue for independence because he was a hard worker, determined, confident, argumentative, and committed. While John Adams was fighting for independence he was lonely because his wife, Abigail Adams, was home at home watching over there sick kids. John Adams served on two committees; the Declaration and the War Committee. John Adams believed that the slavery clause in the Declaration of Independence should stay. He believed that the colonists were slaves to Britain so the colonists needed to free the black slaves. John Adams believed in it so much that he almost risked independence.
Benjamin Franklin, a delegate from Pennsylvania, was another man that believed strongly for independence. The well-respected, intelligent, persuasive, and well-known Benjamin Franklin told John Adams that someone else, Richard Henry Lee, should propose the resolution of independence. Like John Adams, he was also on the Declaration and the War committees. Benjamin Franklin had no relationship with his son, who was the royal governor of New Jersey. He believes that since he doesn’t have full rights of an Englishman than he doesn’t want to be called one. He made a statement saying "We are a new nationality and we require a new nation." Benjamin Franklin supported abolishing slavery but not at the price of independence. He called it "a luxury we can’t afford". Franklin persuaded James Wilson to vote for independence because if he went with John Dickinson than independence wouldn’t happen.
Thomas Jefferson, a delegate from Virginia, was someone who believed in independence even though he was soft spoken. This shy, laid-back, loving man was the youngest member of congress. The intelligent and well-respected Thomas Jefferson supports writing a document that places before common man the reasons for separation. Since Thomas Jefferson was an excellent writer, a deep thinker and dependable he was selected to write the Declaration of Independence. Unlike Benjamin Franklin and John Adams Thomas Jefferson was only on the Declaration committee. When he wrote the Declaration of Independence he thought that it would speak for itself and was upset about the changes to it. He refers to King George III as a "tyrant". He said "the king becomes a tyrant when he breaks the contract." He believes that leaders, King George and Parliament, must represent the peop...Read entire document
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