DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

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DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

• Notes
• written by Thomas Jefferson signed July 4, 1776
• delegates representatives

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I. Ideas for the Declaration of Independence

• A. Jean Jacques Rousseau
• 1. all people are equal
• 2. TJ all men are created equal
• B. John Locke
• 1. people have the right to life, liberty, and
  property
• 2. TJ- life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
• 3. popular sovereignty the government gets
  its power from the consent of the governed
  (practiced through elections)

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II. How is the document divided

• A. 3 parts
• 1. Natural rights
• a. all men equal
• b. life, liberty, happiness
• c. popular sovereignty
• 2. List of grievances (complaint)
• 3. Declaring of Independence
• B. This precedes The Revolutionary War (War for
  Independence)

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III. Other significant documents

• Iroquois Constitution founding fathers used
  parts of this Native American Constitution as a
  basis for our US Constitution (Ex Preamble and
  Bill of Rights)
• Articles of Confederation
• 1. Americas 1st Constitution
• 2. federal govt has little power (WEAK)
• a. could not tax
• b. could not enforce federal laws