47. The Declaration of Independence

Title: The Declaration of Independence
Author: Michael Burgan
Publisher: Compass Point Books
Copyright Date: 2001
Number of Pages: 47
Reading Level: 11+
Genre: Nonfiction

Summary
In June of 1776 the colonies sent representatives to Pennsylvania State House to discuss the pressing issue of rebelling against Britain and its King. General Washington was commanding troops already and they had won the battle of Bunker Hill. There were mixed feelings about declaring independence from Britain. Richard Henry Lee presented a resolution that helped the Continental Congress make a decision a month later. What began the struggle was when the French and Indian War was won. The war was expensive and America was paying for it. Britain was taxing the colonies without proper representation. They had no say in the taxes that they paid. The most unpopular tax was the Stamp Act that taxed all paper goods. The people were outraged and knew that something needed to be done. The tax was finally lifted but Parliament retained the right to take other taxes from the people. The people strongly against the taxation without representation were called Patriots. One famous clash was the Boston Tea Party, five men were shot. Patriots threw thousands of pounds of Tea into the water and this was the first real act of rebellion. The First Continental Congress decided that they would cut off all trade with Great Britain until the taxes were lifted. British troops were sent to destroy all reserves and weapons that the colonists used to defend themselves. They were met by minutemen, the colonists own militia. In January of 1776 a book went on sale called Common Sense, Thomas Paine was the author. 100,000 copies were sold and it told the people that their great country could only flourish through independence. The vote for independence was put off many times to accommodate representatives who needed to counsel first. Thomas Jefferson went to work penning the Declaration. He sent copies to Adams and Franklin and they put notes on it for revision. The document was divided into three sections, the preamble, a list of complaints against King George and then a declaration of independence for the United States of America. This was the first time that the full name appeared on a document. Finally July 4, 1776 Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. Much more hard work was left to be done but they had done it.

Recommendation
I think any child interested in our American history would enjoy this book to see how the founding fathers developed the Declaration of Independence.

Problems/Conflict
No problems

My Reaction
I enjoy reading about the revolution and I think this book did a good job of presenting the facts.