Right Of The American Colonies example essay topic

"This history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpation, all having, in direct object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States". Quoted from the Declaration of Independence, it reflects the Americans' conviction that King George denied the right of the American colonies to govern themselves through their own elected legislatures. In addition, the creators of this document continue to explain the king's failure at securing the colonies' right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Beginning 1760, King George's reign was characterized by rising tensions between the Americans and the British government. Prior to his reign, relations with the British government and the colonies were strained, but never to the point of rebellion. However, as King George continued his reign, the colonists of America began to accuse the King of establishing an "absolute tyranny".

The use of the strong language by the writers emphasizes the Americans' accusations of the British government refusal of allowing the colonies to govern themselves through assemblies elected in America. Outlining the principles of a just government, the Declaration accuses King George of aiming at tyranny. From the point of view of the Declaration, "tyranny" may be defined as a form of government that violates the principles of the consent of the governed and failure to securing the unalienable rights of the people. Throughout the history of the colonies, the king has repeatedly denied the right of the American colonies to govern themselves through their own elected legislatures. "He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his Invasions on the rights of the people".

For example, in 1768, the representative assembly of Massachusetts published a letter for circulation which indicted the King and Parliament for infringing on the rights of Americans. Once the letter came into the hands of the outraged British government, Governor Bernard of Massachusetts was ordered to disperse the assembly immediately unless the letters were rescinded. Unfortunately, the Governor had to order the Massachusetts House to dissolve when they voted not to rescind the letter. Continuing to justify the tyranny of the King over the American colonies, the Declaration describes that "he has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only". The British Government feared that, as new communities were formed and additional representation was elected to the assemblies of the colonies, the popular assemblies of the colonies were growing too large and powerful. New Hampshire, South Carolina, and New York passed laws allowing for the establishment of new communities with elected representatives to their respective popular assemblies.

However, these laws were vetoed by King George. Constrained by the same policy, Virginian colonists insisted that representation in their assemblies was their right. They argued that the government must be by the consent of the governed. On the other hand, the British claimed that representation was a privilege granted by the King. The length of "injuries and usurpations" that the Declaration lists demonstrates the numerous tyrannical acts of the King occurring repeatedly over a long period of time.

Begging with a list primarily focused on domestic policies, the theme present is the violation of the consent principle. For example, the king has repeatedly interfered with the colonists' right to govern themselves through their elected representatives. As described previously, he accomplished this interference by harassing or vetoing the actions of American legislative bodies, acting upon things unauthorized by America's legislative's, and most of all, imposing Parliament's laws and taxes on the Americans without their consent. The Declaration of Independence is the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty. It was created for the purpose to influence public opinion and gain support from both the new states and abroad. The Declaration summarized the philosophy of individual liberties and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the entire world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the tyrannical mother country, Britain..