1. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Notes
written by Thomas Jefferson; signed July 4, 1776
delegates – representatives

2. I. Ideas for the Declaration of Independence
A. Jean Jacques Rousseau
1. “all people are equal”
2. TJ – “all men are created equal”
B. John Locke
1. “people have the right to life, liberty, and property
2. TJ- “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness”
3. *** popular sovereignty – the government gets its power from the consent of the governed (practiced through elections)

3. II. How is the document divided
A. 3 parts
1. Natural rights
a. all men equal
b. life, liberty, happiness
c. popular sovereignty
2. List of grievances (complaint)
3. Declaring of Independence
B. This precedes The Revolutionary War (War for Independence)

4. III. Other significant documents
Iroquois Constitution – founding fathers used parts of this Native American Constitution as a basis for our US Constitution (Ex: Preamble and Bill of Rights)
Articles of Confederation
1. America’s 1st Constitution
2. federal gov’t has little power (WEAK)
a. could not tax
b. could not enforce federal laws