The American Revolution 1776-1783

Patriots and Loyalists At the beginning of 1776 most colonists were not patriots or loyalists. Most were conflicted and didn’t know what course of action they should take.

Common Sense Written by Thomas Paine in 1776 50 page pamphlet giving reasons why the colonies should be independent from Britain. Sold 500,000 copies in six months. Ridiculed rule by kings. Persuaded many Americans to become patriots.

Common Sense

Virginia’s Resolution In May 1776, Virginia authorized it’s delegates to to support independence. Richard Henry Lee introduced the famous ‘Virginia Resolution” It proclaimed that “these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.”

The Declaration of Independence Before voting on the resolution a committee Was formed to draw up a statement stating the reasons for independence. Members of the committee were Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Phillip Livingston. Jefferson was the primary author.

The Declaration of Independence The Declaration has a preamble and three main parts. The preamble is another word for introduction. It starts “When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands that connected them with another….”

Natural Rights This section states some general ideas about society. It was based on the work of John Locke, an Enlightenment philosopher. The idea is that all men were created with rights given to them by the creator, not by a king. States that rights are unalienable- which means they cannot be taken away. It states that all men are equal. It states that the government’s responsibility is to protect these unalienable rights.

List of Grievances States all of the reasons why the colonies want to be free. It states all the ways that the king mistreated the colonists. This is the longest part of the Declaration. Page 176 and 177 in the book.

Dissolving the Bonds Declares that the colonies are free and independent states. The document ends with a solemn pledge: “With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge our Lives, Fortunes, and Sacred Honor.”

Impact of the Declaration The Declaration changed the nature of the war. Colonists were now fighting for the independence of their country and no longer for better treatment. Ideas from the Declaration still inspires us today. i.e. All men are created equal, and the idea of natural rights.