1The Declaration of Independence completed and signed in July 776 marked the formal separation of 13 colony from Britain. A year ago, with the outbreak of the battles of Lexington and Concord, the armed struggle between the colonies and Britain began. The formal declaration of independence established a new American revolutionary government and officially declared war on Britain. The main purpose of the declaration is to help the Second Continental Congress get assistance from foreign countries. The document also gives a clear overview of the history of colonial abuse under British rule since the end of the French-Indian War in 1763.

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Before the war between France and Indians, the colonists enjoyed "beneficial neglect" for more than 100 years. In other words, although there were laws to maintain the colonial subordination to Britain, these laws were usually not enforced. After the French-Indian War increased Britain's share in North America, King George III and Parliament tried to establish firm control over the newly acquired land from France and help pay the war debts by taxing the colonies. To this end, they promulgated a series of bills, either taxing colonists or imposing stricter controls on trade. These laws include Sugar Act (1764), Stamp Duty Act (1765), Thomson Act (1767) and Tea Act (1773). In addition, Parliament promulgated the Garrison Law (1765), which forced the colonists to pay the expenses of the British troops stationed in the colonies.

The colonists initially protested these acts through peaceful means such as petitions, boycotts and committees. They argued that because they were not represented in Parliament, Parliament could not tax them. As their requests were repeatedly ignored and taxes increased, the colonists turned to more and more destructive actions, such as 1774 Boston Tea Party. In response to this rebellious behavior of the Massachusetts colony, the king and parliament punished it through legislation called "intolerable behavior" by the colonists.

This intolerable behavior prompted the colonies to convene an inter-colonial conference to discuss the unified response to the king and the Congress. This is the first continental congress, as it is called, held in Philadelphia on September 1774. Except Georgia, all 13 colonies are there. Congress drafted a declaration declaring that these intolerable acts were unconstitutional, that the colonists retained the same civil rights as British citizens, and that they would boycott all British goods until a settlement was reached. Negotiations never happened. On the contrary, the tension between the colonists and Britain continued to escalate. If no settlement is reached, the first continental congress agreed to convene again in May 1775. At the second continental congress, all 13 colonies attended.

Before all 13 colonies agreed to pursue independence, it took 14 months, military mobilization, persuasive pamphlet guidance and further abuse of colonial rights. What is controversial is political and practical issues. Colonists of the upper class tend to be afraid that the lower class will gain too much power through revolution. Due to trade restrictions, middle-class colonists could not afford to see their business continue to decline. All the colonists were dissatisfied with the king and parliament's refusal to give them representative government and civil rights. However, they also doubt whether they have enough strength to resist the British army.

As early as 1776, Thomas Paine published his pamphlet Common Sense, which won the support of many colonists for the cause of independence. At the same time, Congress submitted an olive branch petition to the king as a final effort for reconciliation. Not only did he refuse to respond to the demands of the colonists, but he also sent an additional 20,000 troops to North America and hired mercenaries from Germany to strengthen his military strength. An all-out war seems imminent, and even moderate representatives realize that in order to get much-needed military support from France, they will have to declare complete independence from Britain. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia 1776 put forward an independent resolution in June. Congress appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence, which was composed of john adams (Massachusetts), Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania), Thomas Jefferson (Virginia), robert livingston (New York) and roger sherman (Connecticut).

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The work of drafting the declaration of independence fell to Thomas Jefferson, the youngest member of the Committee. In writing the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson borrowed ideas from the Enlightenment, especially those of John Locke. The Declaration of Independence not only represents a milestone in American history, but also transforms the political philosophy of Europe in the18th century into real political practice.