The Declaration of Independence

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The year was 1776 and the colonists wanted independence from England. Their rebellion started back almost a decade before, in 1765. After British Legislature had passed the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was a taxation measure created to raise revenues for a standing British army in America. Under the banner of "no taxation without representation," colonists put together the Stamp Act Congress in October 1765. The congress was to voice their [the colonists] opinion on the tax. In November of 1765, most of the colonists wanted a boycott of British goods. Some even arranged attacks on homes of tax collectors. After months of protest and boycotting in the colonies, British Legislature finally chose to cancel the Stamp Act in March 1766. After the Stamp Act was voted out, most colonists continued to accept British rule with no . Then in 1773, the British Legislature presented the colonist with the Tea Act. This act was a bill intended to save the failing British East India Company. This was to be achieved by greatly lowering its tea tax and allowing it a domination on the American tea trade. Many colonists saw the act as another example of taxation dictatorship. In a response to the Tea Act, revolutionary colonists in Massachusetts planned the "Boston Tea Party." The colonist disguised themselves as Native Americans, snuck onto British Import Ships, and dumped all the tea into Boston Harbor. England was extremely upset by the Boston Tea Party and other deliberate acts of destruction of British property. They then passed the Coercive Acts, which was called the Intolerable Acts of 1774 by the colonists. The Intolerable Acts closed the Boston Harbor until the British East India Company was paid back for their loss. The colonists responded wit... ... middle of paper ... ...n 1781. However, the United States did not become formally free and independent until 1783 when Britain signed the Treat of Paris. The Declaration of Independence has 3 main parts. The first part is about individual rights. The next section is list of complaints towards King George III. This list explains all of the reasons the American colonists were angry at the British government and King. The last section ultimately says “we are now our own country and our own people.” It separates the colonial and British governments and the colonial and British people from each other and is an official declaration of Independence. Works Cited "American Colonies Declare Independence." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 4 Apr. 2014. "Misterteacher.com - The Declaration of Independence." The Declaration of Independence. Misterteacher.com, n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2014.

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