Transcript Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence
Philadelphia May 1775
To What Extent:
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“The Declaration of Independence has been
variously interpreted as:
A bid for French support
An attempt to swing uncommitted
Americans to the revolutionary cause
A statement of universal principles
An affirmation of the traditional rights
as Englishmen.”
To what extent are these
interpretations in conflict?
Second Continental Congress
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May 1775
Delegates meet in Philadelphia
Movement toward Independence is
growing
British Government (Lord North) is not
interested in negotiation.
“Common Sense”
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Thomas Paine, a middle aged English
immigrant to the colonies
Friend of Ben Franklin
In January 1776 Wrote a pamphlet that
argued it was “Common Sense” that the
binds that tie the colonies to England be
broken (500,000 copies were sold in a few
years)
Paine was a wonderful Propagandist
Common Sense
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Paine argued
It was contrary to common sense for a large
continent to be ruled by a small distant island
and for people to pledge allegiance to a king
whose government was corrupt and whose
laws were unreasonable.
Persuaded thousands of colonists to call for
independence
“Common Sense”
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“O! ye that love mankind! Ye that dare
oppose not only the tyranny but the tyrant,
stand forth! Every spot of the Old World is
overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been
hunted around the globe. Asia and Africa
have long expelled her. Europe regards her
as a stranger and England hath given her
warning to depart. O! receive the fugitive
and prepare in time an asylum for mankind.”
Independence in Congress
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Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, June 7, 1776,
introduced a resolution to the Continental
Congress, “These United Colonies are, and of
right ought to be free and independent
states.”
Delegates debated three weeks
A committee was formed, Jefferson, Adams,
Franklin, Livingston, and Sherman
Jefferson was asked to write the document
Took two weeks
Independence Declared
July 4, 1776
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Jefferson included Enlightenment ideas
most notably from Locke
“We hold these truths to be selfevident: All men are created equal; that
they are endowed by their creator with
certain unalienable rights; that among
these are life liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.”
Declaration of Independence,
1776
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Most Americans did not desire independence;
proud to be British citizens
B. Reasons for shift of loyalty
1. Hiring of Hessians
2. Burning of Falmouth & Norfolk by the British
3. Governor of Virginia promised freedom to slaves who
would fight for Britain.
Impact: persuaded many southern elite to join New
England in the war effort.
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (1776)
1. Became an instant best-seller in the colonies; effective
propaganda
Main ideas:
Britain's colonial policies were inconsistent;
independence was the only course
Declaration of Independence
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What did the
Declaration of
Independence say?
How is the Declaration
of Independence
organized?
What do you have to
do?
How is the Declaration of
Independence organized?
The Document is divided
into four parts:
 Preamble: announces
the reasons for the
document, explains why
colonists chose to
separate from England
 Political Principles: a
section identifies the
ideas underlying the
rights of the people,
John Locke’s ideas
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The Declaration:
the statement that
these 13 colonies are
now independent
Complaints: the
document lists the
unfair acts
perpetrated by the
British Government
Assignment
Read the Declaration of Independence
While you read look for the following items:
1. Find evidence of Enlightenment ideas in the declaration.
2. What reasons do the colonists cite for separating from
England? (Name 5)
3. List the complaints of the Colonists. (list 3 of them)
4. Why does Jefferson say the colonists should separate?
(See paragraph 4).
5 There are 12 "facts" that Jefferson uses to make his points.
Check them and determine if they are fact or opinion.
6. What acts of war do the colonists claim the king has
perpetrated?