Transcript Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

Declaration of
Independence
July 4, 1776
Thomas Jefferson
& others
Declaration Main Purposes
Theory of
Government
 List of
Grievances
 Declaration
of War
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Theory of Government
All Men are created equal
 Who are left out?
 Women?
 Slaves?
 Property-less men?
Natural Laws it speaks of:
 Unalienable Rights- Life,
Liberty, pursuit of happiness
(J.Locke)
 Government’s job is to protect
rights (and property)
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Theory of Government
“Consent of the
governed”
 What do you think that
means?
 Popular sovereignty
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Theory of Government
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People have the right
to….
“alter or abolish” a
bad government
“institute new
government”
What about the Civil
War? Did they have a
right to abolish the
Union?
List of Grievances
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Blamed King George for
problems of taxation
Taxes, taxes and more taxes
But what did those taxes go
towards?
The English were protecting
the colonists from
French/Indian attacks….
So what?--The colonists
didn’t much care why they
were being taxed. They
(30%) felt England was too
out of touch to control them.
List of Grievances
Two purposes of
Declaration of
Independence
 List complaints
 Win support

Patrick Henry was an agitator…what
significance does the phrase have?
Declaration of War!!!!!
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Due to the lost rights
“united colonies are, and
ought to be, free and
independent states”
What about black slaves?
Who should they fight
for?
The failure to include
anyone but property
owning males under the
idea of ‘free’ will carry
into the Constitution
So What?
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Changed lives forever
Ho Chi Minh, as he
attempted to kick the French
out of his country, cited the
Declaration when he asked
Woodrow Wilson for help.
In 1789, the French will list
their own Declaration
Seen as a rally cry for
freedom
QuickTime™ and a
Sorenson Video 3 decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Articles of Confederation
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Why is it the articles of
confusion?
First US
Government
Confederation
Why?
What about a
constitution?
The Constitution
followed the
Articles. It was an
improvement on
the Articles.
Articles of Confederation
No executive or
judicial branch
 Only a congress
 States were the real
power
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Weaknesses
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One vote per state, regardless of size
Congress was powerless to lay and collect taxes
Congress powerless to regulate foreign/interstate
commerce
No executive to enforce acts of Congress
No national court system
Amendment with consent of all states
9/13 majority to pass laws
Articles only a ‘firm league of friendship”
Review
What did the Declaration do?
 What problems did it create?
 What evidence is there that the Declaration
of Independence influenced countries
besides the USA?
 What caused the American colonists to be
upset with England?
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