Documents from Reading the American Past

Chapter 7

Introduction to the Documents

The Declaration of Independence made crystal clear the momentous stakes of the conflict between the colonies and Great Britain. An independence that seemed impossible, if not unimaginable, to many Americans in 1775 was boldly asserted in 1776 and, after much bloodshed, successfully defended by 1783. Ideas about monarchy and popular government that most British officials and many of their colonial allies, including Native Americans, considered subversive began to seem sensible to many Americans. Independence became a means to move from promising ideas to practical achievements, but only if the American army could defeat the British and defend independence. The shifting fortunes of war often caused many colonists to confront painful decisions that required balancing loyalty and self-interest. Enslaved African Americans frequently sought a different form of independence by fleeing from the rebellious colonists and seeking their freedom among the British. The following documents illustrate ideas and experiences that made revolution seem reasonable to many Americans — whites and blacks — despite its great risks and sometimes bleak realities.