You have been asked to sign the Declaration of Independence. Explain in some detail your decision as if you were a colonial of that era.
At first, this seems like an easy question, with the immediate thought being ‘of course I would sign the Declaration of Independence’ but when it is considered in the context of the times, there are quite a few things that must be considered before putting my John Hancock next to John Hancock.
In the years leading up to 1776, the British Parliament did very little to endear itself to the colonists. Various measures, such as the Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Navigation Act, and Sugar Act, continually antagonized the colonists and reinforced Parliament’s assertion that they were entitled to derive revenue from their rightful property. The feeling of being oppressed by the British government led to a growing feeling of solidarity amongst the colonists, and eventually inspired the idea that they could not only achieve independence and govern themselves, but in the process create an entirely new kind of government based on the tenet that all men are created equal and entitled to the same rights.
Despite the excitement and appeal of independence, it would have been a difficult decision for me, as it was for many at the time, so turn my back on the country of our origin, and commit was essentially would be an act of treason. There was no guarantee this experiment would work, and it surely was no certainty the colonies could stand up militarily to the mighty British Empire and prevail. This last fact would have been particularly concerning, as not only did America not have a standing military, it would also be forgoing the protection offered by the Empire, whether it be on the seas, or any other aggressors.
Thomas Paine, in Common Sense, made a very persuasive argument for the value of the cause for independence, particularly