Declaration of Independence

Jefferson wrote this article to give examples of benefits England and the Americas will have if they are separated. He says it is “necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands that have connected then with another” in order for both bands to be successful. He uses the “Laws of Nature” to point out that it happens all the time. However, he also believes that he must give reasons on why they should separate.
Just like Locke’s philosophical ideas, Jefferson believes that “governments are instituted among men, “meaning that the government comes from the people. The government is only there because of the people who want it.
The purpose of the government is to give the citizens of the country natural rights as suggested by John Locke. The natural rights are “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. Jefferson believed that if the government did not fulfill its purpose the citizens, the government should be overthrown.
The government should represent the people’s ideas. He also agrees with Locke that “it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it” because the government should do what the majority of what the people like. During this time period, England was hurting the colonies with extra taxes and breaking promises. England was just using the colonies to make the country bigger and greater but does not really care for the colonies. For example, the Tea Act was used my Britain to make the colonies pay the British East India company that helped Britain. Therefore, Jefferson uses Locke’s argument to present a reason to break away for England. England was not doing the right thing for the colonies, so the colonies had the right to break away form the government.
Grievances
A. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
B. For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
C. For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
D. For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
E. For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
British Action
The Navigation Acts were made to cut off trade to other countries from the colonies. In 1651, the Act caused all trade to be brought on by English ships. Next, in 1660, another Navigation Act caused three thirds of the population all trading ships to the colonies had to British. Also, all trade was indirect, meaning any trade had to be sent to Britain then the colonies.
Due to smuggling, the British Empire removed juries and instead put in judges. However, this was not the worst part. The worst part was that the judges received 5% of the smuggled goods if the smuggler was found guilty so judges would gain something if the accused were found guilty.
After Britain passed an Act that allowed troops to house in the colonist’s homes, the colonies revolted. Soon after, Britain passed the quartering Act that allowed soldiers to occupy buildings if the colonists did not allow them to live in their homes.
The Sugar Act, the Molasses Act, and the Stamp Act were all taxes imposed on the colonists that the colonists disliked. For example, the Stamp Act was created so that any printed material between colonists had to be taxed. This caused massive revolt form the colonists because it wasn’t fair to them since they did not have any representation in England. However, England argued they had virtual representation like Scotland. The colonists disagreed that it could not be the same as Scotland because it was a completely different situation.
Though many governments of the colonies were altered the major change was in Massachusetts. First King Charles II revoked the charter for Massachusetts in 1684 and the colony along with other New England colonies merged to create the Dominion of New England. It was short-lived but the colony then became part of a royal colony in 1691 and many laws were altered. Then in 1774, England passed the Massachusetts Government Act that gave more control to the King. The King could now appoint the council. The Act was caused by Massachusetts’s rebellious attitude and autonomy.
Many of the colonists petitioned against the government by writing letters and arguing against the King. One main ways the revolted was through boycotting. With each new act they found ways to boycott. For example the tea act was used to make tea from Britain cheaper. However, the colonist understood Britain’s hidden ambition to become richer. Therefore, the colonists boycotted and did not buy tea from Britain.