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.

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