The Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence

• What is our Declaration of Independence?
• A proclamation that declared to all Americans,
  Great Britain, and the world that these 13
  colonies were and ought to be free and
  independent from the Kingdom of Great Britain.
• It explained the reasons or justifications for
  secession or withdrawing from the British crown.
• It was a propaganda tool which tried to show
  clear reasons for their rebellion that might
  persuade undecided colonists to join them.
• It was used as foreign policy to establish a
  just cause to foreign governments that might
  lend them aid.
• The Declaration also served to unite the members
  of the Continental Congress.

A now very badly faded original copy of the
signed Declaration from the National Archives.
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There is a difference between the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution of the United
States. What is the difference?

• The Declaration of Independence declares that
  the colonies are no longer part of the Kingdom of
  Great Britain with reasons (changes against the
  King) why. Key Phase When in the course of
  human events, it becomes necessary for one people
  to dissolve the Political Bands which have
  connected them with another
• The Constitution of the United States is a
  document in which the people decide to create a
  better system of government. Key Phase We the
  people of the United States of America, in order
  to form a more perfect union

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How are these Declarations similar?
How are they different?
Dunlap Broadside This is a rare type-set copy of
the Declaration (only about 20 exist) that was
sent out in 1776. Notice that the signers names
are not present.
This Goddard Print Typeset in 1777 and does
have all the signers names at the bottom,
organized by state. The other thing that was cool
was that this print was authenticated with an
actual signature of John Hancock at the bottom.
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The Stone copy
The John Binns copy 1818
In 1823, William J. Stone was commissioned by
Secretary of State John Quincy Adams to create an
engraving of the document essentially identical
to the original. This copy was made using a
wet-ink transfer process, where the surface of
the document was moistened, and some of the
original ink transferred to the surface of a
copper plate which was then etched so that copies
could be run off the plate on a press. Most
modern reproductions are of Stone's copy because
the poor handling of the original 1776 document.
After the Stone engraving was made, only 202
copies were printed, and then the plate was
destroyed. The engraving also replicated all the
signatures that were on the original.
A facsimile of the Declaration of Independence,
in an ornamental oval frame with medallions of
seals of the thirteen original colonies, and
medallion portraits of John Hancock, George
Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Above is an
eagle with shield, olive branch, and arrows,
holding a streamer reading "E Pluribus Unum."
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On the right is an actual handwritten copy of the
Declaration written by John Adams.
On the left is the Thomas Jefferson manuscript of
the Declaration.
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The 1st steps in declaring independence
1. On April 6, 1776 the Continental Congress
opened American ports to trade with all
nations-except Great Britain. This amounted to a
de facto declaration of independence. 2. on June
7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from
Virginia to the Continental Congress, put forth
the following motion which asked to declare
Independence from England Resolved That these
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be,
free and independent States, that they are
absolved from all allegiance to the British
Crown, and that all political connection between
them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought
to be, totally dissolved. This is known as the
Lee resolution
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This is the Lee resolution, adopted July 2, 1776,
in which the Continental Congress affirmed their
independence from great Britain. The words of the
resolution, originally proposed by Virginia
delegate Richard Henry Lee, are echoed in the
Declaration of Independence
The decision of the Continental Congress to cut
its ties to Great Britain came on July 2, 1776,
which is the date that John Adams thought should
be celebrated by future generations. The
Declaration of Independence, drafted mostly by
Thomas Jefferson, and edited by his colleagues in
the Continental Congress, was adopted 2 days
later.
"The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most
memorable Epocha, in the History of America. . .
. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade,
with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires,
and Illuminations from one End of this Continent
to the other from this Time forward forever
more."--John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3,
1776
http//www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_original
s/declarat.html
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At rightJefferson's "original Rough draught" of
the Declaration of Independence, written in June
1776, including all the changes made later by
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and other members
of the committee, and by Congress.
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Facts about the Declaration of Independence
It is divided into 5 main sections

• 1. Introduction Asserts that it is a Natural
  Law that people have the ability to assume
  political independence states that the grounds
  for independence must be reasonable, and ought to
  be explained.

2. Preamble Outlines a general philosophy of
government that justifies revolution when
government harms natural rights.
3. Indictment A bill of particulars documenting
the king's "repeated injuries and usurpations" of
the Americans rights liberties.
4. Denunciation This section finished the case
for independence. The conditions that justified
revolution have been shown.
5. Conclusion The signers assert that there
exist conditions under which people must change
their government, that the British have produced
such conditions, and by necessity the colonies
must throw off political ties with the British
Crown and become independent states. The core of
the conclusion contains the Lee resolution that
had been passed on July 2.
Congress appointed the "Committee of Five"
(John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin,
Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson) on June
11 to write a Declaration of Independence. Thomas
Jefferson drafted it, Adams and Franklin made
changes to it.
On July 2, the Lee resolution was adopted by
12 of the 13 colonies (New York did not vote).
Immediately afterward, Congress began to consider
the Declaration. Congress made some changes to it
on from July 2 - 4.
Late in the morning of July 4, the
Declaration was officially adopted, and the
"Committee of Five" took the manuscript copy of
the document to John Dunlap, official printer to
the Congress.
On the morning of the July 5, John Dunlaps
printed copies were dispatched by members of
Congress to various committees, assemblies, and
to the commanders of the Continental troops.
Congress ordered that the Declaration be
put on parchment paper with the title of The
unanimous declaration of the thirteen United
States of America and that it be signed by every
member of Congress."
Most members of Congress signed the
document on August 2. George Wythe signed on
August 27. On September 4, Richard Henry Lee,
Elbridge Gerry, and Oliver Wilcott signed.
Matthew Thornton signed on November 19, and
Thomas McKean signed in 1781.