Transcript Bell Ringer - mrbsamericanhistory

The Declaration of
Independence
Homework & My Questions
 Every presentation will have several “my questions”
that are key to each unit and, in turn, are questions
that will help you with writing assignments and will
appear on exams.
 When you are assigned homework, you are expected
to answer at least two of these questions using the
notes and the presentation I provide and also come
up with one question you still have after reading and
listening to the presentation.
 Also, complete the vocabulary pyramids on the
homework sheet I provide.
My Q’s
 What is the purpose of the list of grievances in the
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Declaration of Independence?
What was the Enlightenment?
What is the difference between natural rights and the
social contract theory?
Explain how one grievance in the DOI demonstrates
the ideas of natural rights or social contract.
Come up with your own question.
Complete Vocab Pyramids.
Founding Documents
 Although this course is American History 1877-Present,
the first few weeks or so of class will be devoted to
looking at three of the founding documents of America
that were written well before 1877.
 They are:
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The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution
The Northwest Ordinances
So the real question is why are we looking at these documents if they
were written before 1877? Or, in other words, why are they so
important to study?
The Importance of the Founding Documents
 The Declaration of Independence: It justifies why the
United States became a country and motivates America
to live up to the DOI’s standards.
 The U.S. Constitution: It lays out how the U.S.
government functions.
 The Northwest Ordinance: It continues to provide the
framework for how territories of the United States can
become states and it set many precedents that the
country still adheres to today.
 All three documents not only influenced many significant
actions in American history but also continue to impact
our society today.
Literacy & The Enlightenment
 Literacy and education during the 1600s & 1700s
allowed American colonists to participate in an
explosion of new ideas and beliefs going on in
Europe called the Enlightenment.
 Throughout the colonies, the literacy rate was close
to 50% among males. In England at the same time,
the literacy rate was only 33%.
 Food For Thought: What is the literacy rate today in
America?
The Enlightenment
 The Enlightenment was a movement that embraced
ideas that stated that human reason, science, and
natural rights should control governments and
human actions.
 The questionable actions of kings, queens, church
officials, and the wealthy began to be criticized
tremendously for the first time.
 Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George
Washington, and many of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence believed in the
Enlightenment wholeheartedly.
John Locke: Enlightenment Philosopher
 The ideas of Locke were especially
influential in America.
 He professed that all humans have the
same natural rights of life, liberty, and
property.
 He stated that a government represents a
“social contract” between the ruler and the
people.
Locke’s Social Contract
 According to the social contract, the government—
which is given its power by the people—must ensure
peoples’ natural rights are not violated.
 Locke declared that if their rights are violated, the
people have an obligation to overthrow the
government.
 In summary, people give the government power in
return for protection and fairness.
Locke’s Religious Views
 Locke believed in Christianity, but he also believed
that the individual should decide what is correct
about their respective church.
 Benjamin Franklin, influenced by Locke’s unique
beliefs on religion, hopped from church to church in
Philadelphia and contributed money to each of them.
 Followers of the Enlightenment like Franklin,
Jefferson, and Thomas Paine did not believe in
miracles since they believed that God did not
intervene on earth.
Declaring Independence
 Throughout 1776, American leaders debated whether
or not to declare their freedom from Britain.
 As war intensified, Independence was inevitable and
the Continental Congress selected Jefferson to write
the DOI.
 Jefferson, taking notes from Locke, argued that the
English government had violated the colonists’ rights
and the colonists had to create a new government.
This is a prime example of social contract theory.
A List of Grievances
 Perhaps the most important part of the DOI is the
list of 27 grievances (a reason to complain) that
justify America’s decision to break off from Britain.
 Here are just two of these grievances:
 - “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing
Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.”
 - “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts,
burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our
people.”
Grievances Explained
 - “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing
Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.”
 This grievance was listed because the King—without the
permission of the local government—sent the British
army to Boston to stop the destructive protests occurring
there.
 This is a perfect example of social contract theory in
action. Americans believed that the PEOPLE held the
power to decide whether or not they wanted the British
army to come or not.
 When the King does not ask for their consent
(permission), Americans see this as a reason to
overthrow the corrupt government leading them.
Grievances Explained
 - “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt
our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our people.”
 In other words, the Americans were upset with what was
occurring early on in the Revolution. By the time the DOI
is signed is 1776, the Revolution has been going on for a
year already. And the British had actually burnt houses
and killed many people.
 This grievance demonstrates the violations of natural
rights by the King. The British were taking away the “life,
liberty, and property” or the Americans early in the
Revolution.