The Declaration of Independence and United States Development

Ngan Nguyen

Influence of Declaration of Independence to United States

History 1700

The Declaration of Independence is a famous document not only United State, also

whole the world. It is famous because that document has a great value and meaning to America

and world history. The Declaration of Independence is the birth certificate of United State of

America. It was support other colonies revolutions toward their freedom and happy what they

didn't have when they still being colonies. Look at what United State achieved until today, we

can see how the Declaration of Independence important to a young nation which it born in July

4th, 1776.

Thirteen colonies have reached their limit of endurance under control of Britain. They

realized their countries need liberty, happiness and fair to develop. A group of colonial

American leaders decided create "The Declaration of Independence" to declared themselves

independent of Great Britain. They was fighting for their independence. Finally, the Second

Continental Congress adopted the document "Declaration of Independence" on July 4th,1776.

When they achieved their Independence, that was their chance to develop themselves

also encountered their problem. Because United State of America was a young nation, so there

were many mistakes in their organization establishment. " The Union was a loose one. The

Articles of Confederation did not organize a central government. They did not create courts or

decide laws. They did not provide an executive to carry out the laws. All the Articles of

Confederation did was to create a Congress. But it was a Congress with little power. It could

only advise the separate thirteen states and ask them to do some things. It could not pass laws

for the Union of states."1. Some weakness in the head organization made many difficult for this

young nation. The Congress had not much power and also money to control their State. The

1manythings.org, ” After the Revolution, the Nation Faces a Weak Political System".

money must to collect from member in Congress. Washington has written in one of many

letters about the military situation: "Our sick soldiers are naked. Our healthy soldiers are naked.

Our soldiers who have been captured by the British are naked!"2. They haven't had clothes,

shoes or food and also medicines or blankets. That was weakness military. Everything was so

hard that nobody believe United State can exist. General Washington has wrote to a friend: "I

do not believe we can exist as a nation unless there is a central government which will rule all

the nation, just as a state government rules each state."3. Young nation needed a stronger

central government.

After 15-part plan of government prepared by James Madison and other delegates from

the state of Virginia, the government had more power. The government was improved day by

day more completely after many prepared. Everything went into the system. The people had

their liberty to improve themselves, had the human right to protect their happiness. They had

freedom to work, to speech, and travel. There is some picture in the book name "Promise of

America: Struggling for the Dream". We can figure out how American people living in 1800s.

2 manythings.org, ” After the Revolution, the Nation Faces a Weak Political System".3 manythings.org, ” After the Revolution, the Nation Faces a Weak Political System".

Detail from Kitchen Ball at White Sulphur Springs by Christian Mayr.4

Eel Spearing at Setauket by William Sidney Mount, 1845.5

4 Book, "Promise of America: Struggling for the Dream"5 Book, "Promise of America: Struggling for the Dream".

A wheelwright work at his trade by E. T. Billings, mid-1800s.6

Through some picture above, we can see they were happy to work and enjoy their life.

Freedom in producing that make United States develop in economy. Following the articles of

Confederation about economy, no limit in produce, opening trading between states, support

industries. That were the laws of thirteen states, but each state still had their own law. Some

produces couldn't buying or selling in some state as beer, wine, tobacco,... because their

religions. Religions were also develop in those states. Thirteen states have stated developing

but people were still in poverty and work in a bad condition.

6 Book, "Promise of America: Struggling for the Dream".

The chart show wages and hours for a number of jobs in the 1840's.7

The chart is in the same book "Promise of America: Struggling for the Dream" page 92.

That show us how life difficult in 1800's. United States were independence from Great Britain

but there were still difficult in people life and producing. But United States had strong ability to

develop themselves without control and contribute to Great Britain. And the Independence

was the big chance for them to exit the exploitation.

In 1783-1917 Americans enlarged their nation by many way. United States grew from

thirteen states to fifty states in 134 years, that was amazing numbers. They made treaties with

foreign nations, they bought land and they took land by force. By abilities inside them, they

developed not only economy, also grew their territory in just 134 years. They achieved so many

7 Book, "Promise of America: Struggling for the Dream"

things that they couldn't if they were still under Great Britain control. Because they couldn't

show the power inside them, and they were busy to contribute Britain's rich.

Through my research, I collected many information about United States from the day it

was born until they grew up to fifty states. That was a hard process. With a hard starting, but

they archived many thing after just over 130 years. The Declaration of Independence released

people in those states and also created a big chance development for this young nation. The

current development of United States is a proof of true decision of their revolution and

"Declaration of Independence".