us history ch 7.2
TRANSCRIPT
U.S. History
Chapter 7: The American RevolutionSection 2: Declaring Independence
Common Sense
•Thomas Paine: author of Common Sense
•38 yrs old
Thomas Paine
Common Sense
• 47 pages, 500K copies
• Argued for breaking away from Britain
• Plain languageCover of Common Sense
Common Sense
“I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain
arguments, and common sense . . ."
Common Sense“I have heard it asserted that as
America hath flourished under her former connection with Great Britain,
the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect.
Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument…”
Common Sense
“But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their
families…”
Common Sense
“Nothing but independence…can keep the peace of the continent…A government of our
own is our natural right: and when a man seriously reflects on the precariousness of
human affairs, he will become convinced that it is infinitely wiser and safer, to form a
constitution of our own in a cool deliberate manner, while we have it in our power…”
Declaring Independence
• Lee Resolution: “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States…”
• Proposed June 7, 1776
Richard Henry Lee
Declaring Independence
June 10, 1776: Congress appoints a committee to draft a statement of
independence
Thomas JeffersonVirginia
Roger ShermanConnecticut
Benjamin Franklin
Pennsylvania
Robert Livingston
New York
John AdamsMassachusetts
Declaring Independence
•John Adams to Thomas Jefferson:
–You are a Virginian
–You are a better writer
– I am obnoxious!
Declaring Independence
•July 2, 1776: Lee Resolution adopted
Lee Resolution
Declaring Independence“The 2nd day of July 1776 will be the most memorable in the epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival…with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”
--John Adams, in a letter to Abigail Adams
Declaring Independence
•July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted
Declaration of Independence
Declaring Independence
•August 2, 1776: Declaration signed
Declaration of Independence
Declaring Independence
•The Document:
–Unalienable rights
–Listed rights violated by George II
–Asserted right to break away
Choosing Sides
•Patriots—colonists who chose to fight for independence
•Loyalists—colonists who sided with Great Britain in the fight for Independence
Choosing Sides
• 100,000 Loyalists fled America
• William Franklin
• Thomas FairfaxWilliam Franklin
Other Reactions to the Declaration
“…all men are created equal…”
Other Reactions to the Declaration
•Not included in the Declaration:
–Rights of women
–Rights of African Americans
Other Reactions to the Declaration
•Abigail Adams: wrote an appeal to include the rights of women in the Declaration
Abigail Adams
Other Reactions to the Declaration
• Jefferson included a passage attacking slave trade
• Removed
• Slavery/liberty coexist?
Thomas Jefferson