1. The First U.S. Government

2. Recap
Great Britain founded and ruled the thirteen colonies that eventually became the U.S.
Vast distance between the two meant the colonists generally governed themselves
Under King George III, British govt. begins enforcing its own rules and regulations on the colonists
Colonists fight the American Revolution to establish an independent country

3. The Declaration of Independence
1776- Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia
Named a committee to draw up a Declaration of Independence
Most of the Declaration written by Thomas Jefferson
Approved by members of the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776

4. The Declaration of Independence
Explains the reasons the colonies decided to separate from Great Britain
Colonists believe power of govt. comes from the consent of the governed
If the govt. ignores the will of the people, the people have a legitimate right to change the govt.
Which Enlightenment thinker does this sound like?

5. The Declaration of Independence
More than just a decision to claim independence
A statement of American ideals
The purpose of govt. is to protect human rights

6. Ideals of American Government
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all mean 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”
Men who signed the Declaration knew these ideals would be difficult to achieve
Many of them did not live by these ideals
Even so, the Declaration of Independence is considered one of the greatest documents in U.S. history

7. ? Who established and ruled the original thirteen colonies?
Who wrote most of the Declaration?
On what date was the Declaration approved?
Which of John Locke’s ideas are present in the writing of the Declaration?
Why is the Declaration more than just a statement of independence?