The Revolutionary War – war
between Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British Colonies in North America
Even after the war began few
colonists desired complete independence and people that did were considered radicals.
The radicals cause was
strengthened, in January 1776, when news reached America that King George III had
ordered the enlargement of the British army and navy.
In March 1776, North Carolina’s
revolutionary convention became the first to vote in favour of independence.
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| Thomas Jefferson |
By mid-May seven other colonies
had also voted for independence
In June Richard Henry Lee
introduced a motion calling for independence before the Continental Congress.
Amid heated debate the vote on
Lee’s motion was postponed but a committee was appointed to draft a formal
statement justifying the break with Great Britain, it would become known as the
Declaration of Independence.
This committee consisted of Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin and Robert R.
Livingstone.
Thomas Jefferson was tasked with
producing a draft that would become the Declaration of Independence.
The document effectively stated
that independence from the British colony had become necessary, outlined a list
of grievances against the British Crown and a preamble saying that all men are
equal, deserve to live a free life and pursue liberty and happiness.
After the Continental Congress
reconvened 12 of the 13 colonies adopted Lee’s resolution for independence.
The Declaration of Independence
was officially adopted on 4 July 1776.
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| Example of Declaration of Independence |
The Declaration of Independence
became a significant landmark in the history of democracy and was the first
formal statement by a nation’s people asserting their right to choose their own
government.
Declaration of Independence [online]Available at:
<http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html>
[Accessed
4 June 2012].
Peale, C.W., 1791, Thomas Jefferson. [painting]
Available
at:<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:jefferson-peale.jpg>
[Accessed 4 June
2012].
The Declaration of Independence
[online] Available at: <http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/> [Accessed
4 June 2012]
