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The Coming of Independence

Explore the evolution of American government policy towards independence before and after 1760, examining the influences and echoes of the Declaration of Independence in historical documents. Discover the shift from colonial autonomy to unified resistance against England through key events like the Stamp Act Congress and Continental Congresses.

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The Coming of Independence

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  1. The Coming of Independence American Government

  2. A Change in Policy • Before 1760, the American colonies were left largely to themselves. They relied on England for defense and a common market, but not much else. • In 1760, King George III assumes the throne and begins to deal with the colonies in a more aggressive manner. • He passes taxes in order to pay for the colonies’ defense. • Angers colonists • “No taxation without representation!”

  3. Attempts at Unity • 1643: Massachusetts Bay, New Haven, and Connecticut settlements formed a “league of friendship” for defense against Native Americans. • 1754:Benjamin Franklin offered the Albany Plan of Union. • Each colony would send a delegate to an annual congress which would have the power to raise an army, make war & peace with Natives, and tax. • It was turned down by the colonies and Crown.

  4. Attempts at Unity (cont.) • Stamp Act Congress: In response to the tax in 1765 nine colonies joined together to protest it. • This marked the first time that the colonies joined to oppose England. • It is successful! England repealed the Stamp tax.

  5. Continental Congresses • 1st Continental Congress: • In response to the Intolerable Acts of 1774, every state except for Georgia sent delegates to a congress in Philadelphia, PA. • They sent a Declaration of Rights, protesting Britain’s policies, to the King. • They agreed to meet the following year.

  6. Continental Congresses • 2nd Continental Congress: • They met in May of 1775, the first shots of the Revolution had already occurred. • John Hancock was named the president. • America’s first government (1776-1781) • The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 2, 1776

  7. Declaration of Independence • Congress named a committee of five to prepare a proclamation of independence. • They debated for days whether to completely separate from England. • The Congress adopted the DOI on July 4th, 1776. • Before DOI, no political system had ever been found on the notion that the people should rule and that everyone is created equal. • In Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of the DOI, he describes the slave trade as “a cruel war against human nature”, but it is later removed. Why?

  8. Your Task • Find at least five examples of similarities between your document and the Declaration of Independence. • Why would these documents borrow the language of the Declaration of Independence?

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