This booklet depicts the history of the Declaration of Independence, covers the reasons, impacts, consequences, and also discusses several factors leading to this kind of situation.
1. The Declaration of Independence
2. 2 nd Continental Congress ! At the 2nd Continental Congress, representatives from all the colonies agreed to go to war. ! ! To make it official they elected a committee to write a document to send to the King. ! ! This document would later be known as the Declaration of Independence, and was officially passed on July 4, 1776!
3. Declaration of Independence ! Declaration: announcement ! Independence – self reliance and freedom from outside control.
4. Declaration of Independence ! Thomas Jefferson detailed the colonies’ reasons for breaking away with Great Britain. ! Jefferson claimed that the king did not look after the interests of the colonist and therefore we should create our own nation.
5. Declaration of Independence ! Thomas Jefferson was likely influenced by the publications of John Locke ! Locke believed in: ! “natural law” – the idea that people behave like they’re supposed to because it’s human nature ! “natural rights” – that because we are human, we are guarantee by the Heavens…life, liberty and property.
6. Declaration of Independence ! Jefferson further added that: 1.)We had certain unalienable rights. Which means rights that cannot be taken away. 2.) Governments receive their power from the consent of the governed, which means the people 3.) You have the right to overthrow a government that violates your rights.
7. Declaration of Independence ! Part I: Ideals for writing this document ! The Declaration sets forth the Founders' beliefs about the purposes of government. It explains how government is created. It is one of the best statements of the ideals of our nation. !
8. The Ideals ! 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, and to assume among the Powers of the earth…a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation…”! ! “…all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, 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,…”!
9. Declaration of Independence ! Part II: Arguments! ! This lists the rights of the citizens, explaining that in a“republic”, the people form the government to protect their rights.!
10. ! “Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its Foundation on such principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes…”! ! “…Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security. “!
11. Declaration of Independence ! Part III: List of Grievances or Complaints ! ! This lists the colonists’ multiple complaints against the British government! ! (King George gets the blame).!
12. List of Grievances ! Example- ! Intolerable Acts: ! “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without Consent of our legislature”
13. Sugar Act “For Imposing Taxes on us without our Consent”
14. Quartering Act “For Requiring the Quartering or Housing of British Soldiers”
15. Boston Massacre “He has plundered our Seas, Ravaged our Coasts, Burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our
16. Mercantilism ! “For Cutting off trade between the colonies and all parts of the world.”
17. Declaration of Independence ! Part IV: Conclusion : The bond between Great Britain and the colonies is gone. ! ! This section declares that the colonies are “Free and Independent States” with full power to make war, form alliances, and trade with others.! ! …we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.’!
18. Common Sense ! When Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet, Common Sense he was “The Powers of governing… pointing out that the king in the hands of the king… held all of the power, not himself such an…enemy to the people. The king was liberty…is he…a proper taking away their political person to say to these rights. They needed to colonies, “You shall make no change that. laws but what I please.” ! He urged support for independence.
19. Uncertain Future??
20. Uncertain Future?? ! Benjamin Franklin’s drawing from the 1750s. ! Franklin stressed that the colonies must be united if they are to prevail against Great Britain. ! Every person who chose to join the patriots was putting everything at risk
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