declaration of independence. loyalists, patriots, & neutrals three groups of colonists ...
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Declaration of Independence
Loyalists, Patriots, & Neutrals
three groups of colonistsLoyalists (pro-Britain)Patriots (pro-Revolution)Neutrals (noncommittal)
Loyalists Those loyal to the British Crown Conservatives About 1/5 of pop. “Tories”
Former British officers/soldiers Anglicans Royal Gov. OfficialsNewer immigrants Many slaves
Patriots Those who support some form of Revolution Liberals Vary in their goals – limited reform, extensive
change, full revolution 2/5 of pop.
Farmers Plantation Owners American Merchants Elected office holders
Neutrals
Those who were not seriously committed to either side
2/5 of pop. Quakers, Pacifists, “fair-weather fans”,
those who didn’t care about politics To Patriots, apathy or neutrality was a crime
“If you’re not for us, you’re against us”
Second Continental Congress Delegates had been convened in Philadelphia since May 1775 Even though the Colonies were at war with Great Britain,
Congress still hoped for reconciliation with the “mother country” Americans up to this point were fighting for their rights as natural born
Englishmen Representation in Parliament, judicial rights, etc.
Many still felt somewhat loyal to Britain Had already proposed peace at the end of 1775
Olive Branch Petition Many delegates still felt that America had no chance of winning a prolonged
war with Britain There was not a pro-Independence majority in Congress John Dickinson (PA) was the leader of the non-independence faction of
Congress
Rumblings of Independence Events in late 1775 and early
1776 began to change people’s minds about Independence King’s rejection of the Olive
Branch Petition Prohibitory Act
Blockaded American ports Stopped all trade
Declared all American ships to be enemy vessels
Britain began recruiting mercenaries to strengthen their military force
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
Common Sense Thomas Paine published Common Sense on
Jan 1, 1776 47 page pamphlet Sold 500,000 copies in the first year
Enormous influence on American thinking Everyone had read it or knew about it
Donated profits to Continental Army Explained the reasons why America ought to
declare Independence Wrote in a style that everyone could
understand "Every thing that is right or natural pleads for
separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'tis time to part."
“There is something very absurd in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island."
“For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have the right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others for ever, and though himself might deserve some decent degree of honors, his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them.”
The Independence Movement John Adams spearheaded the effort in Congress
to declare Independence Began to tirelessly campaign for a final separation with
Britain Delegates such as Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John
Hancock, Roger Sherman, and others supported the cause Sent Richard Henry Lee (VA) back to Virginia to get his the
House of Burgesses to pass a resolution for Independence Lee Resolution submitted to Congress on June 7th
“Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”
Committee of Five Congress decided to
postpone a vote on Independence Creates a Committee of
Five to draft a document that outlines the reasons for Independence
John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, & Robert Livingston
Jefferson is assigned the task of writing the document
June 11-28
Thomas Jefferson Jefferson is assigned the task of writing the document
He is a Virginian First colony Not associated with Boston “radicals”
Great Writer No reputation in Congress, like John Adams
Quiet, non-confrontational June 11-28 Uses his portable writing desk of his own design Draws on Enlightenment principles
John Locke English writer, philosopher
Natural rights Rights that everyone has, regardless of nationality
Social Contract b/w Gov and its citizens Governments derive their power from the people Governments should work to serve the public interest
The Declaration of Independence (1817) by John Trumbull
Vote on Lee Resolution After a Declaration was
formalized, Congress resumed debate on Virginia’s Resolution on Independence on July 1st Agreed that the vote should be
unanimous No colony should be pulled from
Britain against their will Each colony would have one vote
Delegates from each colony would vote amongst themselves
Some colonies such as Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Delaware were split or still unsure
Called for an additional postponement
July 2nd, 1776 Caesar Rodney (DA) rode through the night from Delaware to arrive
in Philadelphia, breaking Delaware’s tie, and voting for Independence
Edward Rutledge (SC) realized the need for unanimity, and voted for Independence
John Dickinson (PA) did not want to be the one holding America back from Independence and rode home before the vote, breaking Pennsylvania’s tie and allowing them to vote for Independence
The Lee Resolution passed on July 2nd , 1776 and the Colonies declared their Independence “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the
history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”
- John Adams
The Debate on the Declaration Over the next two days, Congress
debated the wording of the Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration Deleted over ¼ of the text
Including a passage condemning the slave trade
Jefferson took many of the changes personally
Finally, on July 4th Congress finally approved the Declaration Sent to printer, John Dunlap, for
publication Dunlap Broadsides
Final document not signed until August 2nd
Had to be printed Needed all members present
The Declaration of Independence
Introduction (preamble)—states the purpose for writing the document:
To “declare the causes” that forced the colonists to separate from England.
The Declaration of Independence
Political philosophy which justifies this action (rationale):
Natural Rights – rights given to everyone by God Government’s purpose is to preserve Natural
Rights (“life, liberty and pursuit of happiness”) Popular Sovereignty – “the people rule,”
governments are created by the people, not imposed upon them
The Declaration of Independence
List of complaints against the King and Parliament:
Unfair taxes Interference with colonial trade and
economy Standing armies in the time of peace Suspension of colonial legislatures
The Declaration of Independence
Efforts of the colonists to reconcile their differences with England:
28 complaints against England Olive Branch Petition King George’s rejection of these requests
is evidence of his tyranny
The Declaration of Independence
Declaration as an Independent and United Nation:
Declare Independence – direct quote of Lee Resolution
Pledge among the delegates for support of this Declaration with “our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”