How did British policies and responses to colonial grievances affect the writing of the Declaration of Independence?

Question: How did British policies and responses to colonial grievances affect the writing of the Declaration of Independence?

During the French and Indian War, the English and the French fought over land west of the

colonies. The colonists supported the English and fought in their army. The English won the war,

but the war left the English in heavy debt. England used the colonies to raise money to pay their

debts. King George III and Parliament decided that taxing the colonists was the best way to raise

money, but the colonists did not have representation in the English Parliament when this was

decided.

King George and Parliament passed a variety of acts (laws) that taxed the colonists on goods

and services. One was the Stamp Act, which taxed all printed materials, such as newspapers,

legal documents, and playing cards. Colonists saw this as unfair because all of the taxes went

directly to the English government, not to the colonial governments. They began to organize and

speak out with their complaints (grievances) against the king and Parliament. Colonists also sent a

petition to the king stating that: 1) only colonial legislatures can tax colonists, and 2) that taxation

without representation went against the colonists' rights.

Parliament cancelled the Stamp Act, but it passed other acts. For example, Parliament ordered

colonial legislatures to force colonists to house and feed English soldiers. Parliament also taxed

other items, such as tea, glass, lead, and paints. The colonists then decided to boycott, or refuse

to buy, many of the taxed items. They also continued to speak out against the actions of

Parliament.

Some of Parliament’s acts went beyond taxation. For example, the Coercive Acts (also called the

Intolerable Acts) closed the port of Boston, so that ships could not get into the port to deliver

goods. The Acts also shut down some colonial legislatures.

The relationship between England and the colonies grew worse as the Parliament passed such

acts in the colonies and the colonists continued to oppose Parliament. The colonists organized,

wrote petitions, and spoke out against the laws, but over time some of their actions grew violent.

They began to form militias to fight the English troops in the colonies.

In January 1776, Thomas Paine published Common Sense. This pamphlet (booklet) criticized King

George III and argued that the colonies should be independent from England. A few months later,

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, which was formally approved by the

Continental Congress

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the articles of confederation only set up the continental congress at the federal level. there were no executive or judicial branches except within the states. the states were allowed to keep every right that was not specifically given to congress. the bonding of the states was through a 'firm league of friendship' that best served as a defense agreement against invasion. states were not allowed to use taxes as a way to discourage treaties, and states were extremely limited in their dealings with foreign nations.

not many historians today talk about the strengths of the articles of confederation, likely because of how unpopular the document quickly became. the articles did set the legislative body, congress, as the highest power in the nation because of the fear of monarchy. congress had the sole power to declare war, assign treaties, entertain foreign relations, and operate post offices. disputes between states and territorial issues were to be brought to congress. the document also stipulated that canada was allowed to enter the union if they desired.

there were more weaknesses than strengths under the articles of confederation. the lack of power given to the continental congress strangled the federal government. the articles gave congress the power to pass laws but no power to enforce those laws. if a state did not support a federal law, that state could simply ignore it. congress had no power to levy taxes or regulate trade. without a federal court system or executive leader, there would be no way to enforce these laws, either. amending the articles of confederation would also require a unanimous decision, which would be extremely difficult.