Chapter 6, Section 1

Essential Question:

Why was the Declaration of Independence Written?

Review:

• - Second Continental Congress: • Met in Philadelphia in 1775, some wanted independence

some did not, either way they did the following:– Chose George Washington as the commander of the newly formed

continental army– Started printing money

Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet Common Sense.

Paine tried to convince the colonists that they did not owe loyalty to England’s King George III or any other monarch for that matter.

Paine was against British rule in America.

Paine said Americans did not owe a thing to England because any help they received from England was done so to profit the English, not the Americans.

Paine said it could only hurt America to stay under

British rule. 500,000 copies of Common Sense were printed and

sold. George Washington said that Common Sense was,

“working a powerful change in the minds of men.”

Common Sense influenced many members of the Continental Congress.

June 1776 – Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution stating that, “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states.”

Members of the Congress knew that if they declared independence, anyone involved could be hanged as a traitor.

It was decided that they would form a committee to create a declaration of

independence.

Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Franklin

John Adams

Robert Livingston

Roger Sherman

They selected

Thomas Jefferson

to

write the

document.

Jefferson had a reputation for

writing clearly and gracefully.

June, 1776 – Jefferson reads the final copy of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress.

July 2, 1776 – The Continental Congress

voted that the 13 colonies were “free and independent states.”

July 4, 1776 – Congress Accepts the Declaration of

Independence

John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration first – and in the largest handwriting.

Patriots celebrated the news of Independence!

oThey tore down a statue of King George III in New York.

oCannons rang out in

celebration in Boston.  

Parts of the DeclarationPART I – Introduction

PART II – Preamble

PART III – Grievances against the King

PART IV– Grievances against the People

PART V– Conclusion

Part I – Introduction

Tells you what you are going to read here.

States the colonists are “one people” and the English are “another people”.

Part II– Preamble

People form governments to protect their natural rights and liberties.

Government can only exist if the people governed allow it.

John Locke is ALL over this portion of the Declaration. “Consent of the governed.”

Part III – Grievances against the King

oKing George III for banning colonial legislatures and for sending in British troops in times of peace.

oThe limits on trade and taxes imposed without the people’s approval.

o Ignoring the petitions the colonists sent to the monarchy.

Part IV– Grievances against the British

PeopleoAppeals to the people directly failed.

oAccused the people in the home country of being willing participants in the abuses against the colonies.

oSince you didn’t listen to us either, then it is as much your fault as it is the King’s.

Part V- Independence

Officially declares a separation from Britain, forming the United States of America.

“That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States…”

Left to right: Ben Franklin,John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson finishing the Declaration of Independence.