Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence arose from colonial grievances over British taxation and legislation, Enlightenment principles, and inter-colony cooperation. Escalating conflicts and the influence of philosophies advocating natural rights and sovereignty brought about a final break with Britain, leading to the Revolutionary War and eventually the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
Step-by-step explanation:
Summary of the Causes Leading to the Declaration of Independence
The path to the Declaration of Independence was paved by escalating actions and reactions from both the British government and colonial sides. Following the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, Britain sought to tax the colonies through measures such as the Sugar and Stamp Acts to pay war debts, which the colonists saw as unfair taxation without representation.
Further policies like the Declaratory and Intolerable Acts heightened tensions, leading to a spirit of inter-colony cooperation through the Committees of Correspondence and the Continental Congresses.
Philosophically, the colonies were influenced by Enlightenment ideals of sovereignty and natural rights, most notably from John Locke, which clashed with Britain's traditional mercantilism and authority.
The First Continental Congress produced a statement of rights, but when the Second Continental Congress met in 1775, hostilities had already begun in Lexington and Concord, indicating a move towards independence. The Continental Congress eventually declared independence on July 2, 1776, and ratified the declaration on July 4, marking a formal break from Britain influenced by the Enlightenment principles and the growing impossibility of reconciliation.
Despite the initial military successes of the British, the Continental Army under General George Washington eventually secured victory. The formal end of the conflict came with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
The Declaration's adoption and the ensuing war deeply impacted not only the formation of the United States but also sparked inspiration for global movements towards self-determination and democratic governance.