1. DECLARING INDEPENDENCE
Chapter 6, Section 1
DECLARING
INDEPENDENCE

2. Why was the Declaration of Independence Written?
Essential Question:
Why was the Declaration of Independence Written?

3. - Second Continental Congress:
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

4. COMMON SENSE 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.

5. COMMON SENSE
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.”

6. Thomas Paine

7. MOVING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE
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.

8. 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

9. They selected Thomas Jefferson to write the document
They selected Thomas Jefferson to write the document. Jefferson had a reputation for writing clearly and gracefully.

10. The Declaration of Independence

11. The Declaration of Independence
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.”

12. 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.

13. Patriots celebrated the news of Independence!
They tore down a statue of King George III in New York.
Cannons rang out in celebration in Boston.

14. Parts of the Declaration
PART I – Introduction
PART II – Preamble
PART III – Grievances against the King
PART IV– Grievances against the People
PART V– Conclusion

15. Part I – Introduction Tells you what you are going to read here.
States the colonists are “one people” and the English are “another people”.

16. 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.”

17. Part III – Grievances against the King
King George III for banning colonial legislatures and for sending in British troops in times of peace.
The limits on trade and taxes imposed without the people’s approval.
Ignoring the petitions the colonists sent to the monarchy.

18. Part IV– Grievances against the British People
Appeals to the people directly failed.
Accused the people in the home country of being willing participants in the abuses against the colonies.
Since you didn’t listen to us either, then it is as much your fault as it is the King’s.

19. 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…”

20. Free & Independent States
Left to right: Ben Franklin,
John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson finishing the Declaration of Independence.