Declaring Independence

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Declaring Independence
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Common Sense

• A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine arguing that
  the colonies should break away from England
• Sold 500,000 copies
• Written in a way that the common man could
  understand
• Gained support for the war

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Declaring Independence

• June, 1776 Second Continental Congress created a
  committee to write a document declaring the
  colonies independence.
• Thomas Jefferson was the main author

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The Declaration of Independence

• Three Main Ideas
• All men possess certain unalienable rights-
  life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
• King George had violated the colonists rights
  through unfair laws and taxing without
  representation
• The colonies had the right to break away
• Approved July 4, 1776

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Choosing Sides

• Colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain
  were called LOYALISTS

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Colonists who wanted to break away from Great
Britain were called PATRIOTS

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Reactions to the Declaration

• Some people noted that the Declaration ignored
  many colonists, such as women.
• The phrase All men are
• created equal failed to
• mention women at all.

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Reactions to the Declaration

• The Declaration did not recognize the rights of
  enslaved African Americans.

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Reactions to the Declaration

• In the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson- a
  slaveholder himself- had included a passage that
  attacked the slave trade.
• However, southern delegates
• insisted that the passage be removed.

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