The Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence
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Lets Review!

• What is mercantilism?
• What was the impact of the French Indian War?
• Name two ways the Colonists protested the Acts.
  (Think Stamp Act Tea Act)
• What letter did the First Continental Congress
  draft?
• What is significant about Lexington and Concord
• What is Common Sense?

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Todays Goal

• Explain the origin of the Declaration of
  Independence as well as summarize and interpret
  this as a important founding document in American
  history.
• Where did the idea to declare independence come
  from? How did this document originate?
• How comfortable do you feel with your
  understanding of the origin of the Declaration of
  Independence?

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The Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Jefferson was the main author of the
  Declaration, though he received some help from
  other notable Americans.
• The initial document was presented.
• 86 Changes were made in 1 day!
• Nearly 1/5 of the document was eliminated
• Leaving 1,337 powerful words

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What Was at Risk?

• The Second Continental Congress decided that the
  DOI was needed and approved the document after
  revisions were made.
• 56 Signers (at least one from each of the 13
  colonies) were in attendance
• By signing their name to the document, each man
  was committing an act of treason against the
  crown.
• We must indeed all hang together,
• or most assuredly, we shall all
• hang separately.
• -
  Benjamin Franklin

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Who Were the Risktakers?

• Jefferson, Franklin, Hancock, and Adams are well
  known but many of the other men have compelling
  stories as well
• Franklin was the oldest, eighteen were under 40,
  three were in their 20s, half were lawyers, 9
  were landowners, 11 were merchants, the rest were
  doctors, ministers, politicians

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What Did They Have to Lose?
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But Above All Else

• These 56 signers risked the ultimate
• Their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred
  honor

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The Signers of the Declaration

• The signers, as representatives of the American
  people, declared American Independence from Great
  Britain on July 4, 1776!!!!
• (Most members actually signed on August 2 though)
• Was this treasonous? Why or Why not?

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Food for ThoughtWhy are these statements
significant?

• My hand trembles, but my heart does not.
• - Stephen Hopkins
• I am no longer a Virginian, Sir, but an
  American.
• - Patrick Henry

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(No Transcript)
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Why is this Significant?
The Title says The unanimous Declaration of the
united States of America
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Declaration of Independence

• There are four major components of the DOI
• Introduction
• Rights of the People (Natural Rights)
• Complaints of the Colonists (Grievances)
• Declaration of a new Nation the united States

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Parts of the Declaration

• The Colonists were tired of the how they were
  being treated by the British they were IRCD
  (annoyed)
• I introduction
• R rights of the people
• C complaints against the king
• D declaration of a new nation

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Introduction

• Explains why the Continental Congress drew up the
  Declaration
• When in the Course of Human events, it becomes
  necessary for one people to dissolve the
  political bands which have connected them with
  another. a decent respect to the opinions
  of mankind requires that they should declare the
  causes which impel them to the separation

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Rights

• The second part of the Declaration lists the
  natural rights of the citizens.
• It explains that in a republic, people form a
  government to protect their rights. LETS
  ANALYZE THIS!
• We hold these truths to be self-evident (clearly
  true), that all men are created equal, that they
  are endowed by their Creator with certain
  unalienable (inalienable) rights (Cannot be taken
  away), that among these are life, liberty and the
  pursuit of happiness
• That to secure these rights, governments are
  instituted among men deriving their just powers
  from the consent of the governed! (permission of
  the people)
• that whenever any form of government becomes
  destructive of these ends, it is the right of the
  people to alter or abolish it, and to institute
  new government.
• (Social contract natural rights the role of
  the government) According to this, what is the
  relationship between natural rights and the role
  of the government?

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Complaints

• Lists the colonists grievances against the
  British government
• Who is singled out?
• Examples- WRITE THESE DOWN
• He refused assent to laws (laws written by the
  Colonies)
• He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing
  Armies without Consent of our legislature
  (quartering soldiers)
• Hehas imposed taxes on us without our consent
• He has taken away our right to a trial by jury
• He has limited our judicial powers
• He has dissolved our legislatures
• Overall the colonists were oppressed (unjust
  treatment) by the tyranny of the King.
• What is the connection between these grievances
  and natural rights?

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Declaration of a New Nation

• The final section declares that the colonies are
  13 Free and Independent States.
• What is significant about that statement?
• The states now had the power to wage war, to form
  alliances and to trade with other nations.

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How Do You Feel?

• Now that weve discussed the DOI
• How confident do you feel about your
  understanding of IRCD?

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SHR Fireworks
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Now its Your Turn!

• Acting as a modern day Thomas Jefferson you
  now have a chance to rewrite the Declaration of
  Independence.
• Lets take a look at the project instructions.
• Due on Wednesday, October 1st!