Panels Jackeline Oyervides 1/7/14Ms. LeeDeclaration of Independence | The purpose of the Declaration of independence was to completely sever all ties from the British. It was a way of telling the British they no longer had control of them. The colonists were tired of being taxed unfairly and without representation. That’s why when fighting began in 1775 and after being fully convinced by Thomas Paine that independence was necessary, they declared their independence with the Declaration of Independence. A committee of 5 men, including Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were assigned to write the Declaration of Independence. However, they left the job to the youngest member Thomas Jefferson. The structure of the declaration of independence is that it is divided into three parts. The first explains why the Declaration of Independence is being written and defines the purpose of government. The second explains their 29 grievances against King George. Lastly, the third firmly declares their independence of Britain and King George and explains what that means for the United States in terms of the rest of the world. | The colonists viewed themselves as British Citizens who were under the rule of King George. For this reason they believed they had the right to the principle of popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty is the belief that the power of the government comes from people. Meaning they elect people to make decisions for them. However, King George was taxing them without letting them have representatives in the decisions. They were being forced to pay more and more without anyone to defend them. The quote “He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.” From the declaration of independence supports this belief. The king was kicking out representatives who didn’t agree with what he was