The Declaration of Independence is a famous document, but without historic context, it doesn’t often make sense to us in the 21st century. Every single word of the Declaration reflected the events and feelings taking place in the American colonies in 1776. Why, after 150 years of peaceful colonization, did the Colonists decide to rebel against the King of England? What did the British do that angered them so much? What’s with the long list of offenses committed by the King? I’ll take each section a little at a time and try to give a bit of background, and hopefully bring this daring, treasonous document to life.

Our founders knew that “in the course of human events,” (or the history of the world), there had been many occasions for “one people to dissolve the political bands which ha[d] connected them with another.” History was their guide to the rights which the “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” had entitled them.
You can almost see Thomas Jefferson furiously writing with passion at the thought that “it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government!”
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
HE HAS ENDEAVOURED TO PREVENT THE POPULATION OF THESE STATES; FOR THAT PURPOSE OBSTRUCTING THE LAWS FOR NATURALIZATION OF FOREIGNERS; REFUSING TO PASS OTHERS TO ENCOURAGE THEIR MIGRATIONS HITHER, AND RAISING THE CONDITIONS OF NEW APPROPRIATIONS OF LANDS.
This is a perfect example of Tyranny at its finest: preventing the settlement of people on unused lands and preventing new immigrants from settling in the American colonies. As we know, pioneers are the backbone of America’s settling; yet King George wanted to control everything about that land.
HE HAS OBSTRUCTED THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, BY REFUSING HIS ASSENT TO LAWS FOR ESTABLISHING JUDICIARY POWERS.
Several states were left without local courts because the King felt that this was for him alone to govern. You can see that there were MANY reasons for the phrase “consent of the governed.” There was no way to protect life and property without a court of justice.
HE HAS MADE JUDGES DEPENDENT ON HIS WILL ALONE, FOR THE TENURE OF THEIR OFFICES, AND THE AMOUNT AND PAYMENT OF THEIR SALARIES.
Here are more glimpses into the future of the U.S. Constitution. The English King took firm control over colonial judges, both removing them from their office when he saw fit, and demanding that they refuse to bow to the local legislature. A true abuse of power resulted from judges being ruled solely by a tyrant King.
HE HAS ERECTED A MULTITUDE OF NEW OFFICES, AND SENT HITHER SWARMS OF OFFICERS TO HARRASS OUR PEOPLE, AND EAT OUT THEIR SUBSTANCE.
The Colonies were in a constant battle to direct the laws of their own land, while the King set up new and ingenious offices to prevent any self-government. In this case, military courts became his method of enforcing his tyrannical trade laws.
HE HAS KEPT AMONG US, IN TIMES OF PEACE, STANDING ARMIES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF OUR LEGISLATURES.
When the French and Indian War ended, British troops never went back to England. Further, the Quartering Act of 1765 required the colonies to be financially liable for the British troops. A standing army was viewed as a threat to any freedom the Colonists might have, and rightly so. With the continual tightening of British rule, the Colonists had much to fear if they resisted.
HE HAS AFFECTED TO RENDER THE MILITARY INDEPENDENT OF AND SUPERIORTO THE CIVIL POWER.
In 1774, British General Gage was also appointed as Governor of Massachusetts. He was not elected. The following year he declared martial law. The Colonists knew that an appointed military commander and executive had no reprisals to fear, and therefore could rule in any form he wished. This became one of a list of Intolerable Acts by the British crown. Others included closing the port of Boston to all trade, and establishing the Catholic Church as the official church of Quebec (which the British determined extended down into the Ohio Valley, thereby denying freedom of worship in the American colonies).
The U.S. Constitution would similarly declare the President to be Commander in Chief of the U.S. Military, but the difference is that the President is elected to limited terms. Now follows a complete list of the Intolerable Acts, mentioned above.
The Colonists, up to this point, recognized Englandas their “homeland” and the King as their authority under the British constitution (‘our constitution”). However, the Parliament was not included in this constitutional authority, but the King increasingly gave Parliament legislative powers over the Colonies.
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

Nothing could have afforded Me so much Satisfaction as to have been able to inform you, at the Opening of this Session, that the Troubles, which have so long distracted My Colonies in North America, were at an End; and that My unhappy People, recovered from their Delusion, had delivered themselves from the Oppression of their Leaders, and returned to their Duty. But so daring and desperate is the Spirit of those Leaders, whose Object has always been Dominion and Power, that they have now openly renounced all Allegiance to the Crown, and all political Connection with this Country. They have rejected, with Circumstances of Indignity and Insult, the Means of Conciliation held out to them under the Authority of Our Commission: and have presumed to set up their rebellious Confederacies for Independent States. If their Treason be suffered to take Root, much Mischief must grow from it, to the Safety of My loyal Colonies, to the Commerce of My Kingdoms, and indeed to the present System of all Europe. One great Advantage, however, will be derived from the Object of the Rebels being openly avowed, and clearly understood. We shall have Unanimity at Home, founded in the general Conviction of the Justice and Necessity of Our Measures.
My Lords, and Gentlemen, in this arduous Contest I can have no other Object but to promote the true Interests of all My Subjects. No people ever enjoyed more Happiness, or lived under a milder Government, than those now revolted Provinces: the Improvements in every Art, of which they boast, declare it: their Numbers, their Wealth, their Strength by Sea and Land, which they think sufficient to enable them to make Head against the whole Power of the Mother Country, are irrefragable Proofs of it. My Desire is to restore to them the Blessings of Law and Liberty, equally enjoyed by every British Subject, which they have fatally and desperately exchanged for all the Calamities of War, and the arbitrary Tyranny of their Chiefs.”
It “will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.You will think me transported with Enthusiasm, but I am not – I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even although we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not.”
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