Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

First Continental Congress First Continental Congress Boston Massacre- March 1770Boston Massacre- March 1770Boston Tea Party- December 1773Boston Tea Party- December 1773Sept. of 1774- 12 of the 13 colonies send Sept. of 1774- 12 of the 13 colonies send

representatives to Philadelphia to debate representatives to Philadelphia to debate their situation and the intolerable acts.their situation and the intolerable acts.

The colonists decided to place an The colonists decided to place an economic embargo as a sign of protest.economic embargo as a sign of protest.

Tension started to escalate between the Tension started to escalate between the colonies and England.colonies and England.

Second Continental CongressSecond Continental CongressMay of 1775, representatives from all the May of 1775, representatives from all the

colonies again met in Philadelphia to colonies again met in Philadelphia to provide guidance and direction for the provide guidance and direction for the revolution. It went on for years (1781).revolution. It went on for years (1781).

First decisions had to deal with civil and First decisions had to deal with civil and military leadership, raising and funding a military leadership, raising and funding a military and creating a currency.military and creating a currency.

Declaration of Independence issued.Declaration of Independence issued.

Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress

56 members on and off served in the 2nd Continental Congress at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall in Philly)

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

The combined ideas of notables such The combined ideas of notables such as Richard Henry Lee, Ben Franklin, as Richard Henry Lee, Ben Franklin,

John Adams, and JeffersonJohn Adams, and Jeffersonbut the main writer was the junior but the main writer was the junior member of the committee Thomas member of the committee Thomas

Jefferson.Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson – Declaration HouseThomas Jefferson – Declaration House

http://www.nps.gov/inde/declaration-house.htm

Declaration coming to lightDeclaration coming to light

June 1776, Richard June 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia Henry Lee of Virginia brought to Congress the brought to Congress the following resolutions to following resolutions to be voted on:be voted on:

The colonies to become The colonies to become independent states.independent states.

Form their own foreign Form their own foreign alliancesalliances

Prepare a plan of ConfederationPrepare a plan of Confederation

The People have a right to The People have a right to overthrow an abusive overthrow an abusive

governmentgovernment

A multitude of A multitude of politicalpolitical grievances against grievances against the King of England Which presents a the King of England Which presents a

strong case for a permanent separation strong case for a permanent separation

from England.from England.

By July 4By July 4thth, 1776, 1776

Jefferson’s final Jefferson’s final document would document would

formally pronounce formally pronounce America’s separation America’s separation

from England.from England.

Presentation of the DocumentPresentation of the Document

What it did not include:What it did not include:Any statement Any statement against slavery or against slavery or the slave trade.the slave trade.

Why not ???Why not ???

Nothing is stated about Nothing is stated about Blacks or WomenBlacks or Women

Why Not ??Why Not ??

Although…Although…

It Does Symbolize the Birth of It Does Symbolize the Birth of a New Nation.a New Nation.

Influences others around the Influences others around the world, particularly France world, particularly France (1789) and many Latin (1789) and many Latin American countries.American countries.

Isn’t it ironic…Isn’t it ironic…

That Jefferson writes the That Jefferson writes the document for document for

independence and yet independence and yet owns slaves.owns slaves.

Class AssignmentClass Assignment You will be examining some of the You will be examining some of the

grievances that are listed in the grievances that are listed in the Declaration against the King.Declaration against the King.

Identify five and you are to put each Identify five and you are to put each of the marked grievances into your of the marked grievances into your own words. We will discuss your own words. We will discuss your findings.findings.

TodayToday Next, think of what grievances exist Next, think of what grievances exist

today that you may have against our today that you may have against our government. List the ones you can government. List the ones you can think of.think of.

Of these grievances are they an Of these grievances are they an infringement of your rights? How so?infringement of your rights? How so?

How might we as a civilized society How might we as a civilized society deal with these grievances?deal with these grievances?