1. Declaration of Independence (1776)

2. Second Continental Congress met in 1775 -Rejected Parliament’s power to tax -Many delegates still want reconciliation Write the Olive Branch Petition -Appeal to King for peace, self-government -King ignores Moving Towards Independence

3. Enlightenment Ideas 17 th -18 th C: logic and reason can be used to improve society, law, gov’t Thomas Paine writes “Common Sense” based on enlightenment Ideas John Locke (17C) Social Contract Theory 1)People are born with 3 natural rights: life, liberty, property 2)Gov’ts job is to protect natural rights of the people 3)When the gov’t does not protect rights, people have right to rebel

4. A Nation is Born On July 4, 1776 the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence written mostly by Thomas Jefferson Announced colonies break with GB Jefferson used the ideas of Locke: 1) men possessed certain “inalienable rights” including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” 2) King George III passed unfair laws and taxed unfairly 3) Colonists had right to declare ind. because King broke social contract