The Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence
Teaching American History, Lecture 7
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Background Why did the founders hesitate to
declare independence?

• They were at war, had created an army, rejected
  Parliament
• But some still hoped for reconciliation
• Several had strong commercial ties to Britain
• Others were afraid of unleashing democracy, and .
  . .
• Declaring independence was high treason

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Tom Paines Common Sense

• Paine the grassroots revolutionary
• Mass appeal simple facts, plain arguments,
  common sense
• Vivid and irreverent language
• Attacked George III, generated pressure to break
  with crown

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Analyzing the Declaration What kind of document
was it?

• A secret Masonic map pointing the way to the
  national treasure? Nah.
• Propaganda to mobilize popular support? A class
  analysis.
• A legal document dissolving political ties with
  Britain? Yes, but much more.
• A history of abuses, usurpations, and unredressed
  grievances? Mostly.
• A rhetorical masterpiece with continuing
  repercussions in American history? Absolutely.
• Objectives today
• Examine basic facts
• Get inside Jeffersons head role of ideas vs.
  events

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Straightening out the basic facts

• Lees June 7 motion to dissolve ties with Britain
• The committee of five
• Independence declared on . . . July 2
• July 4 final wording of document approved
• August through November document signed

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Analyzing the Preamble The ideas that shaped the
Declaration

• The Preamble We hold these truths....
• Lockean theory
• Pursuit of happiness?
• Scottish Common Sense Philosophy?
• George Masons draft of VA constitution?

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Analyzing the main body the events that shaped
the Declaration

• A history of repeated injuries and usurpations
  
• A long train of grievances
• Excited domestic insurrections?

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Slaves, Slavery, and the Declaration

• Jeffersons antislavery diatribe
• Dunmores Proclamation
• Virginia, George III, and the Atlantic slave
  trade
• The role of slaves in pushing the founders toward
  independence
• Whose freedom?

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The Revolution from the Bottom Up

• Language of liberty was infectious and
  empowering, making elites anxious about how to
  contain democracy
• Poor whites
• Backwoods Regulators in NC (1768) angry at land
  speculators, high taxes, corrupt officials
• Settlers in Virginia angry at Proclamation of
  1763
• Urban working class took to streets to battle
  press gangs, resist high taxes, military
  occupation
• Women
• Ladies of Edenton, NC publicly proclaimed support
  of nonimportation
• Made homespun, rejected imported tea and cloth
• Served as camp cooks, nurses, Molly Pitchers
• Abigail Adams Remember the ladies.
• Slaves escaped, joined British

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Lives, fortunes, honor

• The final section we pledge our lives, our
  fortunes, and our sacred honor.
• High treason
• But most signers fared well, all things considered