The Impact of the Declaration of
Independence
Author: Jansen Comadena
Address: 625 South Eureka Street • Redlands, CA, 92373
Telephone Number: 909-709-6278
Email Address: [email protected]
Grade Level: 11th
Name of High School: Redlands High School
School Address: 840 E. Citrus Ave. • Redlands, CA 92374
School Phone Number: 909-307-5500
The Impact of the Declaration of Independence
Throughout the course of American history, there have been events that have defined
the nation on its pursuit of individualism and greatness. Influential men that were not
afraid to think for themselves and not allow England to control their destiny spurred these
events on. As the colonies grew ever more anxious for freedom from their home nation,
some were daring enough to stand up for the entire nation’s independence. Thus, came
the birth of the Declaration of Independence, which is the single most important
document ever written in the history of this country. The drafting of the Declaration of
Independence was such an important step for the colonies because it officially ended
English rule over colonists, it greatly unified colonists because of the common goal they
had, and it appeased the desires of those in the colonies that did not want to be ruled by a
monarchy.
English rule over the colonists was difficult for both the English and the colonists
because each side caused problems for the other. The English gave their best effort to
control the colonists, despite being across the Atlantic Ocean, yet the colonists still gave
them trouble, “In complete defiance of the proclamation, they clogged the westward
trails. In 1765, an estimated one thousand wagons rolled through the town of Salisbury,
North Carolina, on their way “up west” (Kennedy and Cohen 111). The Proclamation of
1763, issued by the British, made it so that colonists were not able to settle in the Ohio
River Valley. However, after fighting a war in order to obtain this land, one can
understand why the colonists felt slighted by the British in this law. Britain passed
several laws that restricted the economy of the colonies as well because of their rebellious
nature, “It closed the tea-stained harbor until damages were paid and order could be
ensured. By other “Intolerable Acts”—as they were called in America—many of the
chartered rights of colonial Massachusetts were swept away” (Kennedy and Cohen
133). These acts placed a tight hold on the colonists because they were not able to ship
goods in and out of the harbor in the Boston harbor, which was a key port in the New
England colonies. The colonists may have brought some of this punishment upon
themselves, but the reaction of the British was severe. Laws and restrictions such as
these by Britain are why the colonists were becoming increasingly more frustrated with
being under the control of another nation.
After being controlled by Britain for a long time now, the colonists were all somewhat
fed up with the actions of their superiors, so the goal of independence applied to many
that were for the separation of the colonies and the British. Unification over this matter
helps the colonists because with a larger number working together towards a common
goal, it is easier to achieve. An example of how colonists were banning together to
combat the British laws was the Boston Tea Party, “The colonists continued their refusal
to buy British tea because the British insisted on their right to collect the tax” (Newman
and Schmalbach 66). The Boston Tea Party happened due to the actions of a group
called the Sons of Liberty. Creation of groups such as these demonstrates how more
colonists were working together in order to fight of Britain. The actual writing of the
Declaration of Independence also illustrates the growing bond between colonists, “We,
therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress,
Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our
intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies,
solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be
Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British
Crown” (Jefferson). As the colonies realized that they were now their own nation, a
realization of the journey ahead of them also began to set in. It was going to take the will
of the people in order for the new nation to succeed.
After declaring independence from Britain, the United States of America began
forming its government. The main reason that the colonies wanted to separate from
Britain was due to the overwhelming power of the central government in England. In the
first system of governing in the United States, the Articles of Confederation, the colonists
set out to change that, “Under these articles, the states remained sovereign and
independent, with Congress serving as the last resort on appeal of disputes. Congress was
also given the authority to make treaties and alliances, maintain armed forces and coin
money” (www.history.com). As one can tell, the colonists did not want to be anywhere
near a similar situation than what they had just gotten themselves out of. This weak
government was crucial to the colonists and made them happy for the time being. The
idea of democracy also appealed to the colonists, who wanted the country to be run by
the will of the people, even though the only men that could participate were free,
landowning, white men (www.ushistory.org). Even though there was such a small
amount of people that were allowed to participate in political endeavors, it was still a step
in the right direction. The development of a democratic form of governing was key the
growth of the United States of America.
Declaring independence from Britain was the most important moment in American
history, to date, because without having done that, there would be no America today. It
allowed for Britain’s rule over the colonists to end, it unified the colonists because of the
shared goal between most of them, and it set the standard for future government in the
United States. England ruled with an iron fist over the colonies because they felt that this
was necessary in order for the property they had in the New World to be
successful. However, this completely backfired and ended up costing them because this
drove colonists to fight for their right to an individual nation that was under their own
rule. Without the Declaration of Independence, this would not have been possible.
Bibliography
History.com Staff. "Articles of Confederation." History.com. A&E Television Networks,
2009. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.
Foundations of American Government." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association,
n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2016.
Newman, John J., and John M. Schmalbach. United States History: Preparing for the
Advanced Placement Examination. New York, NY: Amsco School Publications, 1998.
Print.
Kennedy, David M., and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant-15th Edition . Boston,
MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2014. Print.
Kennedy, David M., and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant-12th Edition. Boston,
MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2001. Print.
Jefferson, Thomas. Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia: n.p., 1776. Print.
Biography
My name is Jansen Comadena and I am seventeen years old. Being a junior in high
school, I have a lot on my plate. However, I manage to balance all of my activities, in
school and out, in order to give myself the best chance to succeed beyond high school.
Academically, I hold myself to a high standard and always strive to push myself
further. I am currently ranked number nine out of almost six hundred students in the
class of 2018 at Redlands High School. I have received the award for being in the Top 25
for my class the past two years of high school. In eighth grade, I was honored to receive
a rotary club award for academics at my school. Other than my classes, I am also
involved in various clubs at my school. These include Link Crew, which is a club that
serves to aid freshman so they are more comfortable entering high school, Desi Club,
which is a club that is aimed towards educating students about Indian history and culture,
Block R, which is the club at my school that involves all varsity lettermen, and finally
Ping Pong Club, which is really only for having a good time and being able to release
some stress at lunch time. School is my number one priority and I intend it to remain that
way.
Outside of school, I am an avid tennis player. I play tournaments all over Southern
California most weekends throughout the year and have traveled as far as Utah to
compete with high-level junior tennis players. My goal is to play tennis in college
because both of my parents did so, and I want to carry on the tradition.