Declaration of Independence, - Essay Example

Injuries and Usurpations: Colonial Justification for Independence Yuliya Injuries and Usurpations: Colonial Justification for Independence The words of the Declaration of Independence suggest several reasonings to justify the colonists freedom from what was considered a tyrannical leadership regime: The King of Great Britain. Within the text of this document, the injuries and usurpations of this king were spelled out to specifically acknowledge why independence was to be declared. Primarily, the colonists believed that the laws of Great Britain were incompatible with the needs of the people of the colonial United States.

In the Declaration of Independence, it was written that "He (the king) has refused his Assent to Laws the most wholesome and necessary for the public good" (Ushistory.org, 2007). In many respects, the King was perceived as promoting excessive taxation, essentially stepping on the backs of hard-working colonists to earn money for Britain. The colonists realized that an independent system of taxation, when used for the benefit of sustaining the local economy, would prevent Britain from taking resources away from the American colonists for use to sustain a stronger Great Britain.

Secondly, the colonists believed that the king was maintaining a strong military presence in early America, which essentially made the colonists feel as though they were constantly under the threat of military action on behalf of the king of Britain. This is evident in the passage stating, "He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature" (Ushistory.org). While the colonists continued to work to build the foundation of a successful American economy, Britain maintained a close military watch over them to ensure that no revolution against Britain was begun and to constantly show the threat that England could provide against any revolutionaries.

Finally, the colonists were being forced to limit (or suspend) their trade of various goods with other nations. Where the ability existed to export certain domestic products (such as tobacco) to other nations willing to pay for the items, the King of Britain refused such exportation in order to ensure that the monies associated with American-produced products would be distributed not locally, but to the King of Britain himself. This is evident in the Declaration of Independence where it states, "For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world" (Ushistory.org). At a time where the local economy needed export dollars to build a strong, local infrastructure, refusing to allow exportation of colonial goods continued to keep a strong British presence in the colonies and prevent early America from becoming a nation of wealth (likely to prevent any revolution against England).

All of these reasons, and many more, were spelled out in the Declaration of Independence, however these specific items involving exportation, taxation, and unwanted English military presence were the most important issues facing colonists in that day. Their desire to break free of Britain was wholeheartedly justified, as creating laws which separated colonists from their own economic stability was something that these revolutionists would not accept. Their efforts have paved the way for a strong America today.

ReferencesUshistory.org. (2007). The Declaration of Independence. Retrieved on 8/2/07 from http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/