TheTheDeclarationofIndependence,completedandsignedinJulyof1776,markedtheofficialseparationbetweenthe13coloniesandGreatBritain.AnarmedstrugglebetweenthecoloniesandBritainhadbegunjustoverayearbefore,withtheBattlesofLexingtonandConcord.TheformaldeclarationofindependenceestablishedthenewAmericanrevolutionarygovernmentandofficiallydeclaredwaragainstGreatBritain.TheprimarypurposeofthedeclarationwastoassisttheSecondContinentalCongressinobtainingaidfromforeigncountries.ThedocumentalsoclearlyoutlinesthehistoryofabusesthecolonistshadsufferedunderBritishrulesincetheendoftheFrenchandIndianwarin1763. 　　PriortotheFrenchandIndianwar,thecolonistshadenjoyedoverahundredyearsof"salutaryneglect."Inotherwords,althoughlawswereinplacetomaintainthesubordinatestatusofthecoloniestoGreatBritain,theywereusuallynotenforced.AftertheFrenchandIndianwar,whichincreasedBritain'sshareofNorthAmerica,KingGeorgeIIIandParliamentsoughttoestablishfirmcontroloverthelandnewlyobtainedfromFrance,andtohelppaywardebtsbytaxingthecolonies.Theydidthisbyenactinganumberofactsthateithertaxedthecolonistsorplacedstrictercontrolsontrade.TheselawsincludedtheSugarAct(1764),theStampTax(1765),theTownshendActs(1767),andtheTeaAct(1773).Additionally,ParliamentenactedtheQuarteringAct(1765)whichforcedcoloniststohelppayfortheBritishmilitarystationedinthecolonies. 　　Colonistsinitiallyprotestedtheseactsthroughpeacefulmeanssuchaspetition,boycott,andcommittees.TheyarguedthatsincetheyhadnorepresentationinParliament,theycouldnotberightfullytaxedbyParliament.Astheirpetitionswererepeatedlyignored,andtaxescontinuallyadded,coloniststurnedtoincreasinglymoredestructiveactions,liketheBostonTeaPartyof1774.InresponsetothisrebelliousactionbytheMassachusettsColony,theKingandParliamentexactedpunishmentthroughlegislationreferredtobycolonistsasthe"IntolerableActs." 　　TheIntolerableActssparkedthecoloniestocallaninter-colonialcongressforthepurposeofdiscussingaunifiedresponsetotheKingandParliament.ThisFirstContinentalCongress,asitwascalled,metinSeptember1774inPhiladelphia.All13colonieswerepresentexceptforGeorgia.TheCongressdraftedadeclarationclaimingthattheIntolerableActswereunconstitutional,thatthecolonistsretainedthesamecivilrightsasEnglishcitizens,andthattheywouldboycottallEnglishgoodsuntilreconciliationwasreached.Thenegotiationsneverhappened.Instead,tensionscontinuedtomountbetweenthecolonistsandGreatBritain.TheFirstContinentalCongressagreedtomeetagaininMay1775ifnoreconciliationhadbeenreached.AtthisSecondContinentalCongress,allthirteencolonieswerepresent. 　　Ittook14months,militarymobilization,persuasivepamphleteering,andthefurtherabuseofcolonialrightsbeforeall13coloniesagreedtopursueindependence.Atissuewerepoliticalaswellaspracticalconcerns.Upperclasscoloniststendedtofearthelowerclassgainingtoomuchpowerthroughrevolution.Middleclasscolonistscouldnotaffordtoseetheirbusinessescontinuetodeclineduetotraderestrictions.AllcolonistsresentedthattheKingandParliamentdeniedthemrepresentativegovernmentandtheirci