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Short Essay Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson was a radical document that summarized the colonist’s grievances against England and justified American’s separation. It announced the independence of the American Colonies from Great Britain July 4th 1776; one year after the Revolutionary War began. Some of the causes leading to the American Revolution were trade regulations, taxes and Great Britain’s power over the colonies. The colonists where unhappy and wanted to be free from England.
After the French & Indian War the relationship between Britain & the Colonies was worsening. Opportunity opened for the colonist in the western frontier but to prevent further conflicts with the Indians, British implemented the Proclamation of 1763. The Proclamation of 1763 stated the boundaries of settlement for the American colonies to be the Appalachian Mountain and settlers currently west of the mountains had to move back east. Colonist felt that Britain had no right to restrict their settlement but the Proclamation didn’t prevent the colonist from settling. Colonist felt this was a way for Britain to regulate them creating resentment between the mother country and the thirteen colonies which would only grow.

The Proclamation Act wasn’t the only act passed by British Parliament from the effects of The French & Indian War. The war had created large debt for Great Britain. In 1765, to raise money Parliament passed the Quarterly Act and the Stamp Act. The quarterly act forced colonists to house and feed British soldiers, which help the British pay the cost of maintaining troops in America. The Stamp Act supported by Prime Minister Grenville required a tax on printed material such as legal documents, magazines and newspapers. However the effect of the Stamp Act and other acts passed by Parliament began uniting the colonist. Colonist replied through

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