The Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence

• Many historians consider this document the most
  important protest document in the history of man.

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THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

• RI HAD ALREADY DECLARED INDEPENDENCE--MAY 4, 1776
• RICHARD LEE OF VA. ASKED CONGRESS TO SEPARATE
  FROM BRITAIN AND ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT
  UNION--JUNE 7, 1776
• COMMITTEE FORMED TO WRITE A DECLARATION--THOMAS
  JEFFERSON, JOHN ADAMS BEN FRANKLIN

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DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

• JULY 2, 1776, THE DECLARATION IS APPROVED 12-0
  WITH NY ABSTAINING
• JULY 4, 1776, JOHN HANCOCK SIGNS IN LARGE LETTERS
  SO THAT THE KING CAN READ MY NAME WITHOUT HIS
  SPECTACLES
• ALL OTHERS SIGN ON AUGUST 2, 1776
• MANY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD SIGNED THEIR OWN DEATH
  WARRANT.

• JEFFERSON(THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE)
  GIVEN THE JOB OF WRITING THE DOCUMENT
• MOST THOUGHT THAT THE DOCUMENT ITSELF WOULD NOT
  BE VERY SIGNIFICANT--JUST A FOOTNOTE IN HISTORY

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THE DECLARATION IS DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS

• PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION--THE PREAMBLE--WHY IT
  WAS WRITTEN
• POLITICAL FOUNDATION--THE BODY OF THE
  DOCUMENT--WHAT THE KING AND PARLIAMENT HAS DONE
  TO BREAK THE CONTRACT
• PRACTICAL FOUNDATION--THE CONCLUSION--STATES THAT
  THE COLONIES ARE NOW A FREE NATION

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PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION

• WHY THE DECLARATION WAS WRITTEN
• WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT.
• ANY GOVERNMENT AND ITS CITIZENS HAVE A CONTRACT.
• THE GOVERNMENTS ONLY JOB IS TO PROTECT THE
  RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS
• A GOVERNMENT ONLY EXISTS WITH THE CONSENT OF THE
  GOVERNED
• WHEN A GOVERNMENT STOPS DOING ITS JOB-BROKEN THE
  CONTRACT-THEN THE CITIZENS SHOULD GET RID OF THE
  GOVERNMENT AND START A NEW ONE

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POLITICAL FOUNDATION

• LISTS ALL THE THINGS THE KING AND PARLIAMENT HAS
  DONE TO BREAK THE CONTRACT
• LISTS ALL THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE KING HE
  HAS
• THIS LIST THE ACTIONS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT
  (KING PARLIAMENT)WHICH HAS LED TO THE LOSS OF
  COLONIAL RIGHTS

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PRACTICAL FOUNDATION

• THE CONCLUSION
• SAID THAT THE COLONIES ARE NOW THE UNITED STATES
  OF AMERICA
• ALL TIES WITH GREAT BRITAIN WERE CUT
• A NEW COUNTRY AND NATION WAS FORMED

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For more information on the most enduring
protest document in human history just click on
the declaration.