1. Declaration of Independence

2. Warm Up Questions What is the Declaration of Independence based on?
Explain what a Declaration of Independence says.
If you were to write a Declaration of Independence, what would you include?
How do you think this document was viewed King George and Parliament?

3. A Time of Decision
June 7, 1776
Richard Henry Lee, Virginia, called for
“free and independent states”
“all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is…totally dissolved”
Appointed a committee to draft a Declaration
Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson selected to write the Declaration
Big, important, job

4. Why Jefferson?? Excellent writer From Virginia
What did he write before?
From Virginia
Why is this important?
Took him two, painstaking weeks to write the Declaration
Had help from John Adams and Ben Franklin
Adams helped with the technical terms, Franklin helped with the embellishment
Submitted two drafts to the Congress
Both were criticized

5. Independence House

6. Assembly Room

7. Independence Hall

8. July 4, 1776 Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence
John Hancock, the president of the Congress, was first to sign
Look at his signature
What is unique about it?
Wrote in large letters because he wanted King George to see it
“There, I guess King George will be able to read that!”

9. Declaration of Independence
Core idea is based on John Locke’s philosophies
Man is born with natural rights: unalienable the government can not take away
If the government disregards these rights--it loses its right to govern
People than can overthrow, and abolish that government
Declaration listed reasons for separating from Britain
Basically it lists how the colonists felt Britain harmed them

10. Problems? What problems does this document contain? Treason
If the war was lost, these men could be, and probably would be, hung
They risked their lives to write this document
All men are created equal: Of the people by the people, for the people…
Only meant free, white, rich, landowning, MEN
Gave false hope to women and slaves
Both groups left out of the Declaration

11. Let’s Look at the Declaration of Independence

12. Group Activity
You will be given a copy of the Declaration of Independence
Each group will have a section to read over, and become familiar with
You will present you section to the class
You may use p in your textbooks as a guide to help you present your sections