Declaration of Independence

1
Declaration of Independence

• Philadelphia May 1775

2
To What Extent

•    The Declaration of Independence has been
  variously interpreted as
• A bid for French support
• An attempt to swing uncommitted Americans to the
  revolutionary cause
• A statement of universal principles
• An affirmation of the traditional rights as
  Englishmen.
• To what extent are these interpretations in
  conflict?

3
Second Continental Congress

• May 1775
• Delegates meet in Philadelphia
• Movement toward Independence is growing
• British Government (Lord North) is not interested
  in negotiation.

4
Common Sense

• Thomas Paine, a middle aged English immigrant to
  the colonies
• Friend of Ben Franklin
• In January 1776 Wrote a pamphlet that argued it
  was Common Sense that the binds that tie the
  colonies to England be broken (500,000 copies
  were sold in a few years)
• Paine was a wonderful Propagandist

5
Common Sense

• Paine argued
• It was contrary to common sense for a large
  continent to be ruled by a small distant island
  and for people to pledge allegiance to a king
  whose government was corrupt and whose laws were
  unreasonable.
• Persuaded thousands of colonists to call for
  independence

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Common Sense

• O! ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose not
  only the tyranny but the tyrant, stand forth!
  Every spot of the Old World is overrun with
  oppression. Freedom hath been hunted around the
  globe. Asia and Africa have long expelled her.
  Europe regards her as a stranger and England hath
  given her warning to depart. O! receive the
  fugitive and prepare in time an asylum for
  mankind.

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Independence in Congress

• Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, June 7, 1776,
  introduced a resolution to the Continental
  Congress, These United Colonies are, and of
  right ought to be free and independent states.
• Delegates debated three weeks
• A committee was formed, Jefferson, Adams,
  Franklin, Livingston, and Sherman
• Jefferson was asked to write the document
• Took two weeks

8
Independence Declared July 4, 1776

• Jefferson included Enlightenment ideas most
  notably from Locke
• We hold these truths to be self-evident All men
  are created equal that they are endowed by their
  creator with certain unalienable rights that
  among these are life liberty and the pursuit of
  happiness.

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Declaration of Independence, 1776 

• Most Americans did not desire independence proud
  to be British citizens B. Reasons for shift of
  loyalty 1. Hiring of Hessians 2. Burning of
  Falmouth Norfolk by the British 3. Governor of
  Virginia promised freedom to slaves who would
  fight for Britain.
• Impact persuaded many southern elite to join New
  England in the war effort.
• Thomas Paines Common Sense (1776) 1. Became an
  instant best-seller in the colonies effective
  propaganda
• Main ideas Britain's colonial policies were
  inconsistent independence was the only course

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Declaration of Independence

• What did the Declaration of Independence say?
• How is the Declaration of Independence organized?
• What do you have to do?

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How is the Declaration of Independence organized?

• The Document is divided into four parts
• Preamble announces the reasons for the document,
  explains why colonists chose to separate from
  England
• Political Principles a section identifies the
  ideas underlying the rights of the people, John
  Lockes ideas

• The Declaration the statement that these 13
  colonies are now independent
• Complaints the document lists the unfair acts
  perpetrated by the British Government

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Assignment

• Read the Declaration of Independence
• While you read look for the following items
• 1.  Find evidence of Enlightenment ideas in the
  declaration.
• 2. What reasons do the colonists cite for
  separating from England? (Name 5)
• 3. List the complaints of the Colonists. (list 3
  of them)
• 4. Why does Jefferson say the colonists should
  separate? (See paragraph 4).
• 5 There are 12 "facts" that Jefferson uses to
  make his points. Check them and determine if they
  are fact or opinion.
• 6. What acts of war do the colonists claim the
  king has perpetrated?