How Did the Declaration of Independence effect the British and the Americans?
I'm doing a report on the Declaration of Independence and I need to know how the Declaration of Independence effected the Americans and the British! I can't find it anywhere! Please give me websites if needed and PLEASE explain your answer with a few sentences. THANK YOU!
How did the British respond to the Declaration of Independence?
Basically, the British forces still wanted to control their relatively new colonized country that we know today as the United States. They sent troops into America to engage in active warfare with them. American people were encouraged to enlist, sometimes even if they were underage. Consequently, the Americans had a rather large, untrained army, but one that was determined to break the British offensive. The Great Motherland was obviously very agitated with this declaration of Independence and they thought that sending soldiers was the right and necessary action to take. It was not enough though, because these occupants of America had a thirst for freedom from England and against the odds of superior legions they were able to combat them. Of course, tactics aided them to their victories as with any great battles commanded by Generals over history. Eventually the British were cornered at the coast by the Americans, with French reinforcements (U.S allies) just off in the distance of the bay with huge ships packed with men. Jefferson was in full support of the United States and their want of self governance. He concluded that their must be war until an appropriate arrangement could take place or their "enemies" had been defeated.
What does this, from the Declaration of Independence, mean?
"He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people." "He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries." and "He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them."
What are all the grievances from the Declaration of Independence? ?
1. refused to allow colonists or hindered their right to representation --he refused to assent to laws made by colonies; called legislative bodies to meet in places of his convenience, distant from their materials and homes to force them to agree to his measures; dissolved houses of representation for opposing his invasion of their rights, and then refused re-election of those houses 2. made judges answer to the crown for employment and salary (so making the judiciary a tool of the crown and more powerful than the elected representatives) 3. kept standing armies in times of peace (a sign of autocracy) without legislative approval of colonies 4. allowed the British Navy to impress colonial sailors (who were seen by the Navy as British), and to force them to fight against the colonists during skirmishes as part of the British Navy 5. 'incited' native Americans to fight against patriots; but it especially named opposition to the substance of 6. the 5 INTOLERABLE ACTS, in response to Boston Tea Party and associated unrest: i.BOSTON PORT ACT: closing boston port in response to Boston Tea Party, punishing all of the city rather than the guilty, without allowing any of them defense; ii. MASSACHUSETTS GOV'T ACT: brought Mass government under British control by making government positions appointd by crown, and limited Boston town meetings. Intended to pit colonies against one another; instead, other colonies worried about the possibility of the crown's interference in their affiars. iii. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ACT: allowed change of venue (even to Great Britain) for trials of royal officials if the King thought a fair trial could not happen in Massachusetts. Washington called it the "Murder Act." iv. QUARTERING ACT: provided housing for the British soldiers in unoccupied buildings of any colony. v. QUEBEC ACT: although not always an intolerable act, refered to by Declaration: it enlarged boundry of Quebec and abolished English Law, creating an apparent threat to the colonists.
Why did Britain lose the American War of Independence/Revolutionary War?
The British were not yet an unstoppable empireSome ice, some desert, and a small slice of India In 1776, the British were one of several Great Powers in Europe who were all roughly equal in power. These were them, France, Prussia, Austria, and Russia. Below them were a few middle powers including Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal. Out of these strong nations, the British were known for their naval prowess but had one of the weaker and smaller ground armies - France was the expert here. As a result, when the 13 Colonies declared independence, the British were forced to ship soldiers 3,000 miles away and feed and supply them - no mean feat back then - to fight in an environment they were not experts in, ground wars. So this explains why they had difficulty against just the colonists alone. Now let's look at the international situation. 13 years before the Revolution, Britain and Prussia defeated France, Russia and Austria (there were also smaller allies on both sides) in the 7 Years' War. In the aftermath, French colonies from North America to India were seized by the British, which upset the balance between the Great Powers, frightening much of Europe. The British also spent a huge pile of money, which started them on the path of taxing the colonies which started the war in the first place. As a result, when the 13 Colonies declared independence, France was eager for an opportunity to even the score with their rival. Soon after the war began, France was bankrolling the American bid for independence. In the first year, France supplied enough muskets and uniforms for 30,000 soldiers (Larger than the initial size of the Continental Army) and 10 pounds of gunpowder per soldier. Then, France joined in the war openly with a navy that was at the time, roughly equal to the British one. They were eventually joined by the Spanish and Netherlands who brought even more money and soldiers to the table.tl;dr The British Army was never that strongIt was half of Europe and the USA vs Britain
What is the first line to the Declaration of Independence? What does it mean?
"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."A little history is necessary here. The colonists always thought of themselves as British citizens and loyal subjects of the King, but two things drove a wedge between the colonies and England. Historically, each colony had a Royal Governor and an elected legislature. This actually worked well for over a century. The problem came when due to several factors, Royal Governors were not appointed and colonies started ruling themselves for periods of time. The colonies got accustomed to self-government.Second, the French and Indian War, known as the Seven Years War in Europe. In the Americas this brought in a large number of British troops and cooperation with the colonies militia. Well, not so much cooperation actually. The British, being professionals, disliked the colonial rabble and they declared all militia officers above captain to be captains and below all British captains at that. This knocked the landed gentry off the British military.The British and colonials were successful in the French and Indian War, but it cost a lot. The British wanted colonials to pay for it. This really knocked the common people off the British. The colonies had been becoming more mature economies by this point with New York, Virginia and Massachusetts actually commencing exports and the Carolinas servicing the British merchant fleet. They had also been starting to educate themselves with a smattering of universities appearing.The British reaction was hostile, surprisingly so. By ending the Massachusetts legislature and imposing direct rule on that colony and imposing new taxes, the British effectively cut the loyalty of colonists off at the knees.The colonists saw no alternative but to preserve their self-government and to rebel. The D of I states the reasoning.
How did Europe react to the American War of Independence?
By “American War of Independence,” I assume you mean the Revolutionary War.European reactions were mixed, depending on the country. At the time, most of Europe was still under a Monarchy of some sort.In France, there were two sides. The governors did not want the people to think of the revolution as a call for their own, or as the Declaration announced, “a revolutionary doctrine of universal application.” Yet, at the same time, the war weakened Britain, and the French provided aid after a few decisive battles, such as the Battle of Saratoga.Eventually, both situations occurred. The 13 colonies managed to deal Britain a great blow and left the British empire, while the American Revolution was part of the inspiration for the French Revolution a few decades later.Aside from the French Revolution, a battle of independence occurred in Belgium too. Joseph II, the ruler at the time, was deposed, and the United Belgian States were formed. Eventually, the old system was restored, but the people got their first taste of independence.In Russia, when news of the American Revolution came, Empress Catherine ensured they were called “rebels.”In England, there was a division between pro-British and pro-American opinion in the news, although pro-American newspapers were not openly attacked, and some supported the Americans through and through, “the London Packet called such resistance lawful and even honorable against "tyrannic" measures. After Lexington and Concord the London Evening Post said that "the prevailing toast in every company of true Englishmen is, 'Victory to the Americans, and re-establishment to the British Constitution.” ( - Henry Fairlie)In many areas across the Europe, people were excited about the Revolution. For instance, in Denmark, the Declaration of Independence was published on their most popular newspaper, albeit in 2 parts and with censoring.In the new world, where European newspapers were published, the sentiment was similar. The American Revolution and its ideals brought excitement, and the whole Declaration of Independence was published in some newspapers.Overall, in Europe and with Europeans in general, there was a positive viewpoint of the American Revolution.
Why american colonies should not fight for independence.?
Perhaps the greatest group of loyalists were French Canadians who, although they were a conquered people from only a decade earlier, were scared to death of the rampant Protestantism of their southerly neighbours. Afterall one of the "Intolerable Acts" the Patriots were fighting against was the Quebec Act which guaranteed use of the French language, the political rights of Catholics, and the protection of the Catholic Church in the Royal Colony of Quebec. Modern American historians would claim these things weren't an issue and they were resentful of the provisions which blocked western expansionism, but I think everyone knows those political rights were a problem for the protestant patriots as well. That's why a large portion of the French population of Quebec actually denied aid and even started shooting at the patriot forces. So there's another angle....
Why did the colonists think that the Royal Proclamation of 1763 proved how the British King was on the side of the Indians?
The other answers are partial and leave out important factors about why this so impacted the colonies. First- royal authority had promised that the eastern colonies extended at leat to the Mississippi and Great Lakes in their charters. That was why theysupported the French and Indian War so strongly, the French were encroaching on their promised lands. Second- the colonies were cash poor because they were forbidden to print money, but they did generously give soldiers, supplies, arms and other things to the war effort as they could, including much blood and treasure to support the British war effort. Cash strapped armies promised western land to the soldiers who fought as compensation for no cash payments. 3: Therefore- when the Proclamation was given they effectively invalidated all the Royal charters promises- ergo the King could not be trusted to keep his word and showed a bias toward the Native Americans who had just been defeated for fighting with the French 4. It disenfranchised all the soldiers and royal governors who had been given a stake in the lands won from teh French with much blood and treasure as payment and gave them nothing in return, a terrible blow to those who counted on this payment to rebuild their lives after the war, especially one George Washington, hero of the war, who was promised quite a lot for his efforts on behalf of the crown, and who had kindly bought the rights to more from others for badly needed cash money. He had already surveyed the lands and marked them into lots. He was now kicked to the curb by royal proclamation- seeming like massive ingratitude and a deep financial blow to a leading citizen. All to protect tribes that has just been enemies against the crown. That and the Quebec act effectively cut all new lands away from the 13 colonies, a very dangerous action that just seemed like a line on a map to London.