Why did the United States declare independende?

By declaring themselves an independent nation, the American colonists were able to confirm an official alliance with the Government of France and obtain French assistance in the war against Great Britain. ... Independence would be necessary, however, before French officials would consider the possibility of an alliance.

religion played a major role in the american revolution by offering a moral sanction for opposition to the british--an assurance to the average american that revolution was justified in the sight of god. the revolution strengthened millennialist strains in american.

no because we were not ready for war