Section 1 A Nation Declares Independence Chapter 6 Section 1 A Nation Declares Independence

A Call for Independence In 1776 both patriots and loyalists were in the minority Many colonists were in the middle Even in the Continental Congress support for independence was limited to about 1/3

Common Sense Thomas Paine’s 50 page pamphlet printed in 1776 convinced more Americans to support independence from Britain Increased support for independence within the Continental Congress

Virginia’s Resolution Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution to Congress stating the colonies should be “free and independent states” Before voting on Lee’s resolution Congress appointed a committee of five to draw up a statement stating the reasons for separation Thomas Jefferson a delegate from Virginia was to write the declaration John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were also on the committee

The Declaration of Independence Uses ideas from the Enlightenment and step by step logic to explain why the colonists wanted to break away from Britian. The preamble states “ a decent respect of the opinions to mankind” requires that colonists explain why they are breaking away from Britain The DOI then has three main parts Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson reviewing the DOI

Part 1: Natural Rights First section states general ideas about society and government based on John Locke’s ideas about natural rights Jefferson wrote “all men are created equal” and are born with “certain rights” Jefferson also wrote if the government violates these rights,the people can abolish their government and create another

Part 2: List of Grievances Next Jefferson had to prove that the British government did violate the rights of the colonists The Declaration condemns King George III of “imposing taxes on [colonists] without [their] consent” and of “depriving [them], in many cases, of trial by jury” Both were violations of traditional English rights The Declaration states the colonists have tried to reason many times with King George III but he ignored them

Part 3: Dissolving the Bonds States that its logical since people have the right to abolish a government that is unjust, and the King has been unjust to the colonists, the colonies should be “free and independent states” with no political ties between them and Britain.

Impact of Declaration On July 4, 1776 Congress approved the Declaration of Independence The DOI changed the nature of the Revolution Patriots were no longer fighting for fairer treatment but for the creation of a new nation

Too Late to Apologize

Looking Back Declaring Independence was only the first step. For the Declaration to have real meaning the American’s would have to win their liberties on the battlefield.