Signing the Declaration of Independence: A Colonial Justification - Essay Example

Signing the Declaration of Independence: A Colonial Justification BY YOU YOUR ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION HERE HERE Signing the Declaration of Independence: A Colonial Justification Having been asked to sign the Declaration of Independence, this colonial citizen will readily support the publicized effort to break free of European influence for a variety of reasons. Primarily, the British rulers continue to exploit the nation and its natural resources, stepping all over the backs of hard-working domestic laborers, to ensure a stronger position for England’s global economic dominance in this time period.

Britain continues to impose significant taxes on citizens and the goods which are imported from English-controlled territories, placing a tremendous burden on people who are trying to build a quality infrastructure and support their families in an under-developed national environment. In addition, British tax expectations do not allow domestic representatives to challenge the British tax policy, thus this aggressive exploitation of colonial efforts is both unfair and strains individual budgets for quality of life.

Additionally, religious freedom is (and has been) one of the primary rationales for why citizens fled European nations to seek out a new devotional lifestyle in the Americas. Currently, British rule is very conservative and is closely tied to Catholicism in Europe, which has significant influence over the decision making of the King. At this time, and throughout history, Catholic ideals have pressured individual citizens to conform to a singular religious belief where financial contribution to Catholic superiority is deemed both appropriate and mandated by God.

However, as colonial beliefs begin to separate from the traditional Catholic viewpoint, we as citizens are finding our devotional expectations completely incompatible with those of broader Europe. As such, by signing the declaration, we are somewhat publicly chastising the inflexibility of the King of England and his religious expectations and allowing ourselves to cherish our spiritualism without fear of reprisal from a wildly conservative and somewhat misguided English Church (Jackson, 2000).

Finally, we are seeking our own identity as a nation that can stand on its own in what is fast-becoming a global trading marketplace. The citizens of this country have been blessed with ample natural resources which are beginning to become developed into competent domestic manufacturing facilities equipped to improve the quality of living for American colonists. As England begins to witness these successes, the profit-hungry King of England (amongst other national rulers with international influence) attempts to seize a portion of these successes to benefit English lifestyle.

This takes away from our independence to build a strong national economy and keeps us subservient to English rule, as if we are a nation catering to another’s long-term expectations for self-indulgence and wealth. When other national entities seize our products or our profits, the speed by which the nation is built is slowed, angering the colonists and causing issues of personal budgetary crises. All of the aforementioned scenarios have greatly created strained relationships with Britain and have brought me to the final conclusion that separation from England is the most viable option for building a strong national identity.

By signing the Declaration of Independence, we, as a nation, are creating wealth and prosperity domestically and giving ourselves the freedoms we feel we deserve. References Jackson, Arthur C. (2000). Early Colonial America. United States, Hamish Hamilton Publishers: 108-112.