Background And Introduction To The United States

The Declaration of Independence is regarded as amongst the most important pieces of documentation in American history. It was a formal declaration of independence from British authority by the 13 American colonies. Before discussing the further details of the United States declaration of independence, it is important to have a brief idea about the background and introduction to the United States Declaration of Independence. It is briefly discussed in the article.

The Declaration of Independence, authored by Thomas Jefferson and approved by the Second Continental Congress in July 1776, explains why the British colonies in North America wanted independence. The declaration begins with a preamble highlighting the document's importance in explaining why the colonies deposed their monarch and opted to take their place in the world as a distinct nation.

The Americans were nominally fighting for their rights as subjects of the British monarch when the armed confrontation between bands of American colonists and British soldiers began in April 1775. The drive for independence from Britain had increased by the next summer, with the Revolutionary War in full swing, and delegates to the Continental Congress were forced to vote on the matter.

A five-man committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin was tasked with producing a formal statement of the colonies' intentions in mid-June 1776. On July 4, the Declaration of Independence, partly drafted by Jefferson, was formally adopted by Congress in Philadelphia, a date now commemorated as the dawn of American independence.

(Image will be uploaded soon)

History of the United States Before the Declaration of Independence

Even after the Revolutionary War's opening conflicts, few colonies desired complete independence from Britain, and those who did–such as John Adams–were regarded as radicals. Over the next year, however, things altered as Britain attempted to destroy the rebels with the full weight of its vast army.

In his October 1775 letter to Parliament, King George III railed against the insurgent colonies and commanded the expansion of the royal army and fleet. In January 1776, word of his statements reached America, bolstering the radical cause and prompting many conservatives to give up hope of reconciliation.

In the same month, Thomas Paine, a recent British immigrant, released "Common Sense," arguing that independence was a "natural right" and the only route for the colonies; the booklet sold over 150,000 copies in its first few weeks.

North Carolina's revolutionary convention was the first to vote for independence in March 1776, and by mid-May, seven more colonies had got on board. When the Continental Congress assembled at the Pennsylvania State House (presently known as the  Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on June 7, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies independence.

Congress postponed a vote on Lee's proposal and called a recess for several weeks in the midst of intense discussion. However, before leaving, the delegates formed a five-man committee, which included Virginia's Thomas Jefferson, Massachusetts' John Adams, Connecticut's Roger Sherman, Pennsylvania's Benjamin Franklin, and New York's Robert R. Livingston, to draught a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain. 

The United States Declaration of Independence was born from this paper.

Drafting the United States Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson, the committee's youngest member, was tasked with authoring the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson drew on Enlightenment principles, particularly those of John Locke, when writing the Declaration of Independence. 

Not only did the Declaration of Independence mark a watershed moment in American history, but it also put 18th-century European political concepts into action.

The Declaration of Independence was divided into five sections when it was written by Jefferson: an introduction, a preamble, a body (divided into two portions), and a conclusion. In general, the introduction implied that the colonies' desire for independence from the United Kingdom had become “essential”.

The preamble contains the document's most famous portion, which outlines a list of grievances against the British crown. The famous message is mentioned as: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that their Creator endows them with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”.

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams reviewed the draft formulated by Jefferson. They left the text in its original form but removed portions that were likely to cause debate or suspicion, such as those that blamed King George III for the transatlantic slave trade and those that blamed the British people rather than their government.

On June 28, 1776, the committee presented the final draught to Congress, and on July 4, 1776, Congress accepted the Declaration of Independence's final language.

Arguments Presented by the US for Drafting the Declaration of Independence

Since we have understood the background and introduction to the United States declaration of independence, let us look into the arguments that the Americans presented. It is important to understand these arguments as based on the arguments the debate to accept or reject the petition of Independence was to be decided by the British monarchy.

The main arguments were focused on the incapability of the British government to govern the American colonies and the inequality of the laws imposed by the British.

The United States argued that the governments exist solely as a result of the people they represent wielding power. When a government fails to grant citizens rights and removes citizens' participation, citizens have the right to replace their government in such a way that their unalienable rights are safeguarded.

The US also argued that governments should not be deposed for petty reasons; it is unusual for people to abandon a system with which they are familiar. When people have been subjected to numerous abuses while under a totalitarian leader’s leadership, they have the right and the responsibility to remove that regime.

Impacts of the United States Declaration of Independence

The British government tried everything it could to reject the Declaration of Independence as a meaningless document written by dissatisfied colonists. British officials hired propagandists to point out the errors in the proclamation and refute the colonists' accusations. 

The Declaration divided British domestic opposition, as some American allies thought it went too far, but it had many supporters in British-ruled Ireland.

The Declaration of Independence's introduction is especially significant since it helped Americans' understanding of their rights as citizens. The United States of America continues to believe that all men are created equal. Despite the fact that the Declaration of Independence has no legal standing in our country, it is still cited as the cornerstone for American equality.

The Declaration of Sentiments, a declaration stating women's unjust treatment by the United States government and society, was written in this manner at the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention. The Declaration of Independence's preamble was crucial in shaping American beliefs and laws.

Recognition of the United States of America as an Independent Country

Since we have seen the impact of the declaration of independence, let us now look briefly into the course of recognition of America as an independent country.

The Declaration's most important diplomatic effect was to allow sympathetic foreign governments to recognise the United States. In 1777, the Sultan of Morocco named American ships in a consular document, but Congress had to wait until the Treaty of Alliance with France in 1778 to have the United States officially recognised.

In 1782, the Netherlands recognised the independence of the United States. Despite joining the battle against the British in 1779, Spain did not acknowledge American independence until the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Great Britain officially recognised the United States as a sovereign and independent nation under the conditions of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War.

In conclusion of the article, we have seen the declaration of independence summary, including the background and introduction to the united states, demand of independence. The article also explained the impact and the course of recognition of the US as an independent country.