Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence -June 1776 - Congress was debating Independence Richard Henry Lee – Lee put forth the motion to the Continental Congress to declare Independence from GB -Congress formed a committee to begin work on a formal document -The document was meant to explain the reasons for independence So if I ask you what was the purpose of the DOI, You will say- to explain to GB the reasons why the 13 American Colonies declared Independence. Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence -mostly written by Thomas Jefferson -Congress edited the final draft -Issued July 4, 1776 - National Independence Day! -announced that the 13 American Colonies, who were at war with Great Britain, were no longer a part of the British Empire. -Great Britain's response was to continue the war

Concepts in the Declaration -Jefferson took ideas from many Enlightenment thinkers Three big concepts: 1.) Natural Rights 2.) Social Contract 3.) All men are created equal -Listed specific reasons for our independence -Grievances (complaints) against King George III and the British Parliament -Does not describe any particular form of government for the new nation Both came from John Locke *John “check out my” Locke(s)

Eternal Statement -We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it.”

Choosing Sides -Loyalists – “Tories”(1/3) those who remained loyal to the King and the British often called Tories -Patriots -“Whigs” (1/3) those who supported the move for independence risked everything because they could be hung as traitors -Undecided – “moderates” (1/3) As many as a third of the colonists were undecided as to whether independence or remaining part of England was the best decision