Declaration of independence Chapter 6 Review Declaration of independence

After Lexington and Concord After Lexington and Concord two options were clear Declare Independence Continue with protests and petitions Patrick Henry, a Patriot, was strongly in favor of independence Gave a speech to the Virginia assembly in which he declared that war was unavoidable and he welcomed it “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Henry compared the King’s treatment of colonists to be like that of slaves

The Continental Army Continental Congress voted to create an army George Washington was chosen to lead it. Why? Skill and experience as officer Excellent character Battle of Bunker Hill Militiamen built forts on two hills near Boston British troops set out to attack the militiamen After three attacks British won, but suffered many losses

The Continental Army Continued The army Washington took over was unorganized and lacked supplies Ticonderoga Washington sent militia men to retrieve weapons from Ft. Ticonderoga Boston March 4th, 1776 Washington used his new weapons to scare British troops and Loyalists out of Boston

Olive Branch Petition and Common Sense Most colonists still considered themselves loyal British subjects Their anger was towards British policies, not GB itself (GB= Great Britain) Olive Branch Petition In 1775 the Second Continental Congress sent a petition to King George III to make peace with the colonies King had already declared colonies to be in rebellion Common Sense In 1776 Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet titled Common Sense Paine detailed the many ways the colonies were not benefiting from connection with Great Britain Paine persuaded many colonists to join cause for independence

Wanted to convince colonists to rebel It inspired colonists to Common Sense Written in 1776 Thomas Paine For colonists Wanted to convince colonists to rebel It inspired colonists to think about independence Olive Branch Petition 1775 Second Continental Congress For King George III Written seeking to end the fight between colonies and GB Failed to convince George, king declared colonies to be in rebellion 1. Offer solutions for dealing with same issue (GB) 2.Written by colonists 3. Trying to persuade audience

The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence Job: Explain why colonies were separating from GB Jefferson based his arguments on natural rights, rights that people are born with Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness Jefferson’s principles in the Declaration: All people are born equal in God’s eyes All are entitled to the same basic rights (Natural Rights) Power to govern comes from citizens If a government fails to protect people’s rights, the people have a right to change it.

The Declaration of Independence Passage on slavery caused the signing to be delayed Slavery was an important issue in the colonies: Southern colonies feared they’d lose laborers on farms Northerners worried it would hurt New England merchants (slave trade) Ultimately the passage discussing slavery was removed On July 4th delegates approved the final version of the Declaration To Great Britain, this was an act of treason!

Parts of the Dec of Ind  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, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation Preamble/introduction– sets the purpose of the document  Explain to the world why we are separating from GB

Parts of the Dec of Ind Statement of Rights -  We hold these truths to be self-evident, that 1.) all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain 2.) unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, 3.) Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That 4.) 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,… Statement of Rights - Colonial beliefs about government (the 4 principles) Equality All people have rights Government power comes from the people Bad governments should be changed

Parts of the Dec of Ind List of Grievances –  …He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: List of Grievances – spells out all the Kings Crimes Proof that the king is a tyrant Lists all things the king did wrong

Parts of the Dec of Ind Statement of Independence-  …That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. Statement of Independence- explains that the colonies are now separate from GB Will act as other countries do Identifies the colonists were willing to give up their lives, honor and fortunes.