Were The Colonists Justified In Declaring Independence Essay Example

Although some people may argue the American colonists were not justified with breaking away from The American colonists were justified in breaking up with Britain because Britain had been violating their Natural Rights (life, liberty, property). Britain had shot and killed colonists clearly violating their Natural Rights according an engraved by Colonial Leader Paul Revere  Evidence  Engraving by Paul Revere in 1770 that depicts the infamous The Boston Massacre, a conflict between British soldiers and American Colonists that resulted in the British Firing upon a group of innocent colonists killed 5 a injuring more than a dozen [Doc C] Killing people is obviously a clear violation of the American Colonists’ Natural Rights by depriving them of their rights to life by shooting at the innocent protesters. This same violation happened in The Battles at lexington and Concord in 1776 England was far beyond reaching a peaceful conclusion as explained by Thomas Paine. Britain had been violating the colonists natural rights at the battles at Lexington and Concord by trying to conquer their property and kill the colonists. [Doc G] Clear violation of natural rights by killing the American Colonists and taking over their property. Some people may argue that Britain was justified in Violating Their Natural Rights because The Colonists Provoked Britain. According an excerpt from Captain Preston’s account of the Boston Massacre in 1770, “Asking him why he fired without orders, I was struck with a club on my arm which for some time deprived me of the use of it, which blow had it been placed on my head, most probably would have destroyed me” [Doc D] some people may argue that Britain was justified in making the decision to shoot into the crown of protester but that is a flawed statement because the soldiers had many other options that they could have chosen than to shoot the innocent colonists. Although some people may argue that the British were not justified in breaking away from Britain. The American colonists were justified because Britain had violated their natural rights.

Although some people may believe that the American Colonists were not justified with breaking up with Britain. The American Colonists were justified in breaking up with Britain because they violated their Economic Rights by depriving them of their economic independence. Stamp Act was a law imposed by the British That taxed Government documents which did not receive support from the American Colonists and was largely contested because unlike other taxes the the Stamp Act did not benefit  the colonists it was only used to raise revenue as explained by Letters from Farmer Dickinson in 1767-1768, “Never did the British parliament, [until the passage of the Stamp Act] think of imposing duties in american for the purpose of raising a revenue” [Doc B]. This “duty” is clearly an infringement of the American Colonist’s Economical rights because not only was the money only being used for Britain's benefit, but the colonists did not have any say in why or how they would be taxed. But the Stamp act was not the first of Britain’s offenses, it was one of many. In 1764 The British parliament issued The Sugar Act due to the country’s massive debt after winning the French and Indian war as explained by the bill passed by the British Parliament, “An act for granting certain duties in the British Colonies and plantations in America… (An act for the better securing and encouraging the trade of his majesty’s sugar colonies in America)” [Doc K]. The Sugar act raised the price of sugar for the colonies while it encouraged the trade of goods from the British trade route. The Sugar act was a violation of the Colonists Economics rights because it was taxing goods without any benefit to the colonists and similarly to the stamp act, The Sugar Act was not to the benefit of the colonists because the money was not being used for the benefit of the colonists.

One could argue that Britain was justified in taxing the Colonists as stated in a pamphlet written by Thomas Whately he wrote “We are not yet recovered from a War solely for their [the Americans’] Protection … A War undertaken for their defense only … they should contribute to the Preservation of the Advantages they have received” [Doc A] this is stating that Britain was justified in imposing taxes on the Colonists because they got in a war for the defense of the Colonists only but that is a completely false argument. Because not only did Britain actually benefit largely from the French and Indian war because they possessed the French Territory after the war colonists did not get any. Although some people may argue that the American Colonists were not justified with breaking away from Britain, The American colonists were justified with breaking away from Britain because Britain had violated their Economic Rights by imposing taxes upon them for no apparent reason other than generating income.

Although some people may argue that the American colonists were not justified in breaking away from Britain. The American Colonists were justified in breaking away from Britain because they had violated their Civil Liberties. Civil Liberties are rights that are given by the government of which one is a citizen of. The American Colonists wrote The Declaration of Independence to finally break away from Britain and to gain independence. According to the following from the The Declaration of Independence adopted by The Continental Congress of July 4th, 1776,

“ ... That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and institute a new Government… ” [Doc H]. The Founding Fathers put this line into the constitution with the idea that another Government or Empire may try to do the same or similar thing that Britain did. People may argue that Britain was justified with Violating their Civil Liberties because they are the parent country that is not the case. According to a line from The Declaratory Act that was issued by the British Parliament in 1766 along with the repeal of the stamp act, “The King’s majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords [in parliament .. ought to have full power and authority to make laws and statutes…” [Doc F]. This law is saying the British Parliament has full authority to make laws and statutes, However this is no justification for taking away the citizens rights. According to a line from The Declaration of Independence  adopted by The Continental Congress of July 4th, 1776, “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations [unlawful seizures], all having in direct object in the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States” [Doc F]. This piece of evidence is saying that the Colonists were justified in breaking apart from Britain because they have violating their natural rights and that is not a flawed argument because Britain had oppressed their Civil Liberties by taking away their rights which was the last straw for the colonists and is the reason that The Declaration in Independence was passed so the colonists would become more independent.