1. Starter
Write a about a break up you heard about, witnessed, or experienced in your life. Why did the break up occur? Who was the one to break up with that person? What caused the break up? (complaints) How did this effect the people involved? What happened afterwards?

2. Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776
2nd Continental Congress
Author- Thomas Jefferson
John Adams, Ben Franklin, John Hancock among the many who signed

3. Declaration of Independence
Document divided into three main parts:
Natural Rights
Grievances & wrongs committed by G.B.
New U.S. powers & desires

4. Preamble- introduction
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

5. Natural Rights- rights belonging to people from birth
Part 1:
Natural Rights- rights belonging to people from birth
Unalienable rights- rights that cannot be taken away. “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.” **People form a government in order to protect these natural rights

6. Grievances (complaints)
Grievances - A complaint or protestation based on a particular circumstance
Wrongs - To treat unjustly or injuriously
Part 2:
Grievances (complaints)
List of wrongs that led Americans to break away.
Petitions fall on deaf ears
“In every state of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.”

7. Part 3: Independence Political ties cut with England
United States had the full power to:
Make war, peace, alliance, commerce

8. What principles of government are expressed in the Declaration of Independence?
Homework: In your blue notebooks 1) What did Thomas Jefferson mean by the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? 2) How does our government (the UK) protect our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

9. Further analysis
Interpret (state what you believe it means) 3) Jefferson had charged [accused] King George with violating the “sacred rights of life and liberty … of a distant people [by] carrying them into slavery.” What did Thomas Jefferson mean? What does the quote mean?

10. Interpretation 4) According to Thomas Paine, “ ‘Tis not the affair of a city, a country, a province, or a kingdom, but of a continent … ‘Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age … Now is the seed-time of continental union, faith, and honor.” (pg. 116) What did Thomas Paine mean? Therefore, interpret the quote and explain what does the quote means.

11. Interpretation
5) “You have declared the sentiments of millions … We were blind, but on reading these enlightening words the scales have fallen from our eyes.” (pg. 116) What did this reader in Connecticut mean, in reference to Thomas Paines’ words in Common Sense?

12. “As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of calling the right of it in question.” When there is a history of misuse of power, the people can question a ruler’s actions.

13. “But the injuries and disadvantages we sustain by that connection, are without number; and our duty to mankind at large, as well as to ourselves, instruct us to renounce the alliance.” We have been wounded over and over again because of our bond to Great Britain. It is our responsibility to reject our ties with Great Britain.