THE DANGERS OF DECLARING INDEPENDENCE
There were many dangers that would come with declaring independence. One of the most obvious was the predominant power of Great Britain. Declaring independence would have been a treasonous act. At the actual signing of the Declaration, one of the signers remarked, "we must stand by each other--we must hang together." The quick-witted reply from another signer standing within earshot was, "Yes, we must hang together, or we shall assuredly hang separately." Another problem the Americans faced was the vast naval forces of the British. The colonists could not hope to defeat them on their own and would therefore have to rely on foreign aid to support their efforts. This aid would have most likely come from France, another powerful European nation. However, most colonists still saw the French as an old enemy that had been defeated in the French Indian war 20 years earlier. If the French were to help America win a war with the British, what would prevent France from taking over. Even British tyranny seemed better than French domination to many colonists. One more of the great dangers that comes along with declaring independence is the problem of forming a government. The Continental Congress was going into uncharted territories; it had been centuries since the last time a union had successfully broken off from its mother country. If the Unites States were actually successful in the war for independence, how would their government be structured? Would it actually be possible to remain free, or would another power soon take over and revert back to a monarchy. These are a few of the many perils that came with the Declaration of Independence.
There were many dangers that would come with declaring independence. One of the most obvious was the predominant power of Great Britain. Declaring independence would have been a treasonous act. At the actual signing of the Declaration, one of the signers remarked, "we must stand by each other--we must hang together." The quick-witted reply from another signer standing within earshot was, "Yes, we must hang together, or we shall assuredly hang separately." Another problem the Americans faced was the vast naval forces of the British. The colonists could not hope to defeat them on their own and would therefore have to rely on foreign aid to support their efforts. This aid would have most likely come from France, another powerful European nation. However, most colonists still saw the French as an old enemy that had been defeated in the French Indian war 20 years earlier. If the French were to help America win a war with the British, what would prevent France from taking over. Even British tyranny seemed better than French domination to many colonists. One more of the great dangers that comes along with declaring independence is the problem of forming a government. The Continental Congress was going into uncharted territories; it had been centuries since the last time a union had successfully broken off from its mother country. If the Unites States were actually successful in the war for independence, how would their government be structured? Would it actually be possible to remain free, or would another power soon take over and revert back to a monarchy. These are a few of the many perils that came with the Declaration of Independence.
WHY WAS INDEPENDENCE NECESSARY?
Declaring independence was not something that Congress one day just decided to do. They were left by Britain with no other choice but to dissolve all political connection with them. In the Declaration, there is an extensive list of what Congress felt were the transgressions of King George III. These are the three foremost reasons for declaring independence. First, the King had consented to the Prohibitory Act, which officially placed the colonies out of his protection. Second, he refused to answer any of America's petitions calling for reform, "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." And third, the king, "has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures," and, "He is at his time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny."
Declaring independence was not something that Congress one day just decided to do. They were left by Britain with no other choice but to dissolve all political connection with them. In the Declaration, there is an extensive list of what Congress felt were the transgressions of King George III. These are the three foremost reasons for declaring independence. First, the King had consented to the Prohibitory Act, which officially placed the colonies out of his protection. Second, he refused to answer any of America's petitions calling for reform, "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." And third, the king, "has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures," and, "He is at his time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny."
THE COLONIST'S OPINIONS
Originally, the majority of the public did not support the idea of independence. There were some people that held special ties with the British government that firmly opposed any sort of independence. These people became known as Loyalists. Although most of the population were not Loyalists, almost all of the colonists did not agree with the prospect of independence. They still considered themselves British and were proud to be a part of their country, especially with the recent British victory in the French and Indian War. Besides their pride in being British, the colonists also worried about many of the dangers of independence described above, as well as the fact that an all out war with Great Britain would bring horrendous amounts of death and devastation. The first notable step toward altering the public's opinion came with the Boston Massacre. In March of 1770, British soldiers fired on a rowdy group of American colonists killing five people. There is much controversy surrounding this event and what actually happened; there is a very reasonable chance that the soldiers did not fire on a defenseless crowd but a crowd full of aggressive people with pitchforks and stones. However, regardless of what really happened, pro-independence colonists seized the opportunity to publicize the event. The picture above appeared across all of the colonies, depicting a totally defenseless crowd being fired upon by ruthless British soldiers. Proud British colonists were shocked by the mercilessness of the British, swaying many of their opinions toward independence. The next big step toward gaining the public's support for independence was Thomas Paine's book Common Sense. Published in January of 1776, Paine directly addressed the people's questions about independence and firmly argued that the war made independence necessary. Common Sense was a monumental success, selling 150,000 copies in America alone. Paine collected all of the arguments for independence in one single pamphlet and expressed them well. So well, many colonists now regarded the possibility of independence as one of the best options. Paine also proposed a republic style government, which caused some controversy, but ultimately caused the republic to be accepted as a superior style of government. The final blow to most of the colonists still hoping for reconciliation with Britain came with King George III's response to a question regarding his definition of a just and honorable peace. He said that his American subjects experienced a misery which had been "brought upon themselves by an unjustifiable resistance to the constitutional authority of this Kingdom," and said that he would be "ready and happy to alleviate those miseries, by acts of mercy and clemency, whenever that authority is established, and the now existing rebellion is at an end." With this statement, the King destroyed any inkling of hope that the colonists had of reconciliation with Great Britain.
Originally, the majority of the public did not support the idea of independence. There were some people that held special ties with the British government that firmly opposed any sort of independence. These people became known as Loyalists. Although most of the population were not Loyalists, almost all of the colonists did not agree with the prospect of independence. They still considered themselves British and were proud to be a part of their country, especially with the recent British victory in the French and Indian War. Besides their pride in being British, the colonists also worried about many of the dangers of independence described above, as well as the fact that an all out war with Great Britain would bring horrendous amounts of death and devastation. The first notable step toward altering the public's opinion came with the Boston Massacre. In March of 1770, British soldiers fired on a rowdy group of American colonists killing five people. There is much controversy surrounding this event and what actually happened; there is a very reasonable chance that the soldiers did not fire on a defenseless crowd but a crowd full of aggressive people with pitchforks and stones. However, regardless of what really happened, pro-independence colonists seized the opportunity to publicize the event. The picture above appeared across all of the colonies, depicting a totally defenseless crowd being fired upon by ruthless British soldiers. Proud British colonists were shocked by the mercilessness of the British, swaying many of their opinions toward independence. The next big step toward gaining the public's support for independence was Thomas Paine's book Common Sense. Published in January of 1776, Paine directly addressed the people's questions about independence and firmly argued that the war made independence necessary. Common Sense was a monumental success, selling 150,000 copies in America alone. Paine collected all of the arguments for independence in one single pamphlet and expressed them well. So well, many colonists now regarded the possibility of independence as one of the best options. Paine also proposed a republic style government, which caused some controversy, but ultimately caused the republic to be accepted as a superior style of government. The final blow to most of the colonists still hoping for reconciliation with Britain came with King George III's response to a question regarding his definition of a just and honorable peace. He said that his American subjects experienced a misery which had been "brought upon themselves by an unjustifiable resistance to the constitutional authority of this Kingdom," and said that he would be "ready and happy to alleviate those miseries, by acts of mercy and clemency, whenever that authority is established, and the now existing rebellion is at an end." With this statement, the King destroyed any inkling of hope that the colonists had of reconciliation with Great Britain.