Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms facts for kids
The Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms was an important document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 6, 1775. It explained why the Thirteen Colonies were fighting against Great Britain in what became the American Revolutionary War. The main writers of this Declaration were Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson.
Why the Colonists Fought
This Declaration explained that the British Parliament had been trying to control the colonies more and more after the Seven Years' War. The colonists were upset about several unfair rules.
Some of these rules included:
- Taxation without representation: This meant the British government made the colonists pay taxes, but the colonists had no say in the British Parliament.
- Unfair courts: The British used special courts called vice admiralty courts that didn't have juries.
- Coercive Acts: These were a series of harsh laws passed by Britain to punish the colonists, especially after the Boston Tea Party.
- Declaratory Act: This law said that the British Parliament had the right to make any laws for the colonies.
The Declaration stated that for ten years, the colonists had tried to ask Britain to fix these problems. But their requests were ignored or turned down. Even though British soldiers were sent to force these laws, the Declaration said that the colonists did not yet want to break away from Britain. They were fighting "in defense of the Freedom that is our Birthright." They promised to stop fighting when Britain stopped its attacks.
The document explained that Britain was trying to control the colonies by force, which made it necessary for the colonists to fight back.
Who Wrote It?
The Declaration was mainly written by two important figures: Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson.
At first, there was some disagreement about who wrote most of it. Thomas Jefferson later said he wrote the first draft, but John Dickinson thought it was too strong. So, Dickinson wrote a more moderate version, using some parts of Jefferson's original text.
Historians, like Julian P. Boyd, have studied the old papers and found that both Jefferson and Dickinson played a big part. Jefferson wrote an early draft, and then Dickinson rewrote much of it, keeping some of Jefferson's ideas. In the end, it was a team effort.
A famous line near the end of the Declaration, written by Dickinson, says: "Our cause is just. Our union is perfect. Our internal resources are great, and, if necessary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attainable." This showed the colonists' strong belief in their fight.
See also
In Spanish: Declaración de las Causas y Necesidad de Tomar las Armas para niños
