1. Declaration of independence
Chapter 6 Review
Declaration of independence

2. After Lexington and Concord
After Lexington and Concord two options were clear
Declare Independence
Continue with protests and petitions
Patrick Henry, a Patriot, was strongly in favor of independence
Gave a speech to the Virginia assembly in which he declared that war was unavoidable and he welcomed it
“Give me liberty, or give me death!”
Henry compared the King’s treatment of colonists to be like that of slaves

3. The Continental Army Continental Congress voted to create an army
George Washington was chosen to lead it. Why?
Skill and experience as officer
Excellent character
Battle of Bunker Hill
Militiamen built forts on two hills near Boston
British troops set out to attack the militiamen
After three attacks British won, but suffered many losses

4. The Continental Army Continued
The army Washington took over was unorganized and lacked supplies
Ticonderoga
Washington sent militia men to retrieve weapons from Ft. Ticonderoga
Boston March 4th, 1776
Washington used his new weapons to scare British troops and Loyalists out of Boston

5. Olive Branch Petition and Common Sense
Most colonists still considered themselves loyal British subjects
Their anger was towards British policies, not GB itself (GB= Great Britain)
Olive Branch Petition
In 1775 the Second Continental Congress sent a petition to King George III to make peace with the colonies
King had already declared colonies to be in rebellion
Common Sense
In 1776 Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet titled Common Sense
Paine detailed the many ways the colonies were not benefiting from connection with Great Britain
Paine persuaded many colonists to join cause for independence

6. Wanted to convince colonists to rebel It inspired colonists to
Common Sense
Written in 1776
Thomas Paine
For colonists
Wanted to convince colonists to rebel
It inspired colonists to
think about independence
Olive Branch Petition
1775
Second Continental Congress
For King George III
Written seeking to end the fight between colonies and GB
Failed to convince George, king declared colonies to be in rebellion
1. Offer solutions for dealing with same issue (GB)
2.Written by colonists
3. Trying to persuade audience

7. The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson tasked with drafting the Declaration of Independence
Job: Explain why colonies were separating from GB
Jefferson based his arguments on natural rights, rights that people are born with
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness
Jefferson’s principles in the Declaration:
All people are born equal in God’s eyes
All are entitled to the same basic rights (Natural Rights)
Power to govern comes from citizens
If a government fails to protect people’s rights, the people have a right to change it.

8. The Declaration of Independence
Passage on slavery caused the signing to be delayed
Slavery was an important issue in the colonies:
Southern colonies feared they’d lose laborers on farms
Northerners worried it would hurt New England merchants (slave trade)
Ultimately the passage discussing slavery was removed
On July 4th delegates approved the final version of the Declaration
To Great Britain, this was an act of treason!

9. Parts of the Dec of Ind
 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
Preamble/introduction– sets the purpose of the document 
Explain to the world why we are separating from GB

10. Parts of the Dec of Ind Statement of Rights -
 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that 1.) all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain 2.) unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, 3.) Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That 4.) whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,…
Statement of Rights -
Colonial beliefs about government (the 4 principles)
Equality
All people have rights
Government power comes from the people
Bad governments should be changed

11. Parts of the Dec of Ind List of Grievances –
 …He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
List of Grievances –
spells out all the Kings Crimes
Proof that the king is a tyrant
Lists all things the king did wrong

12. Parts of the Dec of Ind Statement of Independence-
 …That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Statement of Independence-
explains that the colonies are now separate from GB
Will act as other countries do
Identifies the colonists were willing to give up their lives, honor and fortunes.