According to the document, the British actions had led colonists to choose between "an unconditional submission to the Tyranny of irritated Ministers, or Resistance by Force." The colonists chose resistance. However, they indicated that they were willing to lay down their arms if the British addressed the grievances.
Creation of the Declaration of Independence
As the war progressed, more and more colonists began to call for outright independence. In December 1775, the Second Continental Congress denied the sovereignty of the British parliament over the colonies. In January 1776, Thomas Paine's Common Sense whipped up public support for the cause of independence. In April, the colonists opened their ports to trade with other nations, clearly violating the restrictive mercantilist policies of the mother country. In May 1776, the congress declared that the authority of the king was to be suppressed and that it would establish its own government to administer the colonies,
which it soon did. It formed the Continental Army, issued a currency, and established a post office. King George declared the colonies in rebellion and began to hire German mercenaries to fight in North America.
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