The Colonies Unite Declaring Independence I can identify and describe the important people and events associated with the Declaration of Independence. I can explain why the Declaration of Independence is important and name its key political concepts.

Moving Toward Independence WHY IT HAPPENED: Colonist Thomas Paine published a pamphlet entitled Common Sense. It convinced many colonists that they should rule themselves. WHAT HAPPENED: Delegates in the Second Continental Congress began to agree about independence from Britain. They wrote a resolution of independence in June of 1776. A committee of delegates chose Thomas Jefferson to write a declaration of independence to send to the king. He was a 33 year old lawyer who had studied government and the law. It took him 17 days and many drafts to write it. He owned enslaved people.

The Declaration of Independence WHAT IT WAS: Preamble First part of the Declaration. It explained why the Declaration was needed. It explained why the colonies had the right to break away from Britain and form a new nation. Rights It described the colonists’ main ideas about government. It stated all the rights that a government couldn’t take away. Grievances It listed the grievances that the colonists had against the king and the peaceful ways they had already tried to resolve their differences with Britain. Last Part It stated that the colonies were free and independent states.

Congress Approves the Declaration WHY IT HAPPENED: Jefferson gave his draft to Congress for approval. WHAT HAPPENED: On July 2, Congress voted to approve the resolution to cut ties with Britain. On July 4, Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration. On July 8, the Declaration was read in public, in front of the state house in Philadelphia. Many colonists celebrated the news.

A Dangerous Decision By August 2, Congress members began to sign the Declaration. John Hancock used a large signature, so that “King George III could read it without his glasses.” Signers put themselves in danger. If the colonists lost the war, signers could be charged with treason and put to death. Ben Franklin joked about it by saying, “We must all hang together… or we will all hang separately.” In 1776, only white men who owned land could vote. This was not fair, and it would take many years for poor people, African Americans, women, Native Americans and other groups to get the full rights of citizenship (including the right to vote). Years later, the Declaration would inspire people to fight for their rights, even though they did not have them when it was first written.

Forming a New Government The continental Congress set up another committee to plan to unite the 13 colonies. The first plan was called the Articles of Confederation. Approved in 1777 Each state elected representatives to serve on a national legislature. Did not matter how big the state was. The Articles had weaknesses: 9 of the 13 colonies had to vote yes to approve a law. Congress did not have the power to enforce the laws. They did not allow Congress to control trade or collect taxes. Congress could ask for an army, but the states would have to come up with the soldiers.