1

2 Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence Legislature – law-making group Declare – to strongly state something Declaration – a forceful, strong statement Independence – to have freedom to make your own choices and have control over what happens to you Preamble – introduction – usually for an official document; often gives reasons for document being written Declaration of Independence – Document that made our break with England official Natural Rights – rights that belong to all people from birth COMMON SENSE  Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine  Urged colonists to declare independence  Listed reasons why it was only “common sense” to be our own country  Paine said the idea of kings and queens was wrong & that the colonies didn’t owe their loyalty to England  Convinced many colonists to side with Patriots

3 Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence Treason – betraying one’s country Traitor – Someone who betrays his or her country Capital crime – a crime for which the penalty is death CONGRESS VOTES FOR INDEPENDENCE  June 1776, Continental Congress decides to vote for independence from England  A difficult decision – all would be called traitors by England; they would be committing treason, a capital crime  Appointed a committee to tell the world why they were declaring independence  Committee chose Thomas Jefferson to write it  DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE  Signed July 4, 1776, Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  All 13 colonies had delegates sign it  John Hancock was president of Continental Congress – signed largely and boldly  Was distributed throughout the colonies

4 Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE  Made up of preamble and three main parts  Natural Rights – First main part of the document  States that certain rights are ours from birth and that if the government violates them, it’s the right and duty of the people to over-throw the government  British Wrongs - Second part of document  Condemns king for putting soldiers in colonies during peacetime and for breaking up the colonial legislatures (law-making groups)  Lists many of the British “wrongs” and says colonists had the right to rebel  Also said that king had a chance to fix the mistakes but chose not to do so  Independence – Third and final part of document  States that we break all ties with England  Calls colonies the United States of America  Declares full independence as a country

5 Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence

6 Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence