1. Declaring Independence
Chapter 4, Section 2
Declaring Independence

2. Paine’s Common Sense Common Sense
47-page pamphlet that was distributed in Philadelphia in January of 1776
Published anonymously (without the author’s name)
Written by Thomas Paine
Argued that citizens, not monarchs (kings and queens) should make laws
This was a bold statement at a time when monarchs ruled much of the world

3. Paine’s Common Sense Recent immigrant from England
Argued a strong case for American independence
Ridiculed the idea that monarchs ruled by “the will of God”
Disagreed with economic arguments for remaining with Britain

4. Paine’s Common Sense
News of Common Sense spread through the colonies and 500,000 copies of the work were sold (equivalent to a “best seller” today)
Thomas Paine reached a wide audience by writing as a common person speaking to common people
Made a strong case for economic independence from Great Britain and the right to military self-defense
Cried out against tyranny (abuse of government power)

5. Independence is Declared
June, 1776: The Second Continental Congress formed a committee to write a document declaring the colonies’ independence from Great Britain
Also created a seal for the new country with the Latin motto “E pluribus unum” (“out of many, one”)
Motto recognized the union of the new states

6. A New Philosophy for Government
Declaration of Independence
Formally announced the colonies’ break from Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson was the main author
Assisted by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman
Made up the “Committee of Five”
Expressed 3 main ideas
All people possess certain unalienable rights: “…life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
King George III had violated the rights of the colonists by taxing them without their consent
The colonies had the right to split from Great Britain
Social Contract between governments and people
It is the responsibility of governments to protect the rights of the people

7. A New Philosophy for Government
Jefferson was deeply conflicted while writing the Declaration
Wrote of liberty and justice for all while he was a slave owner of more than 100 slaves
Would become the 3rd President of the United States
He and John Adams would die on the same day-July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted
Thomas Jefferson

8. A New Philosophy for Government
July 4, 1776: The Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence
All ties with Great Britain were severed
The signers were wanted men and would pay with their lives as traitors if captured
The grave of William Hurry in Philadelphia, PA. He is the man who rang the bells over Philadelphia proclaiming independence on July 4, 1776.

9.  The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, PA
 The room in Carpenter’s Hall where the Declaration of Independence was adopted
 Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia, PA today

10. Choosing Sides Loyalists Colonists who chose to side with the British
Also called “Tories”
Persecution by Patriots forced many Loyalists to leave the colonies
Most went to Canada
Abandoned their homes and property

11. Choosing Sides War divided families
Benjamin Franklin was stark supporter of the Patriot cause
His son, William, remained loyal to the king
Father and Son would forever cease all communication, leaving Benjamin Franklin brokenhearted and bitter.
Benjamin and William Franklin, once very close,

12. Choosing Sides Native Americans
At first, Native Americans were encouraged by both sides to remain neutral
By summer of 1776, Patriots and British were both actively pursuing Native Americans to join their armies
Most Native Americans sided with the British
Fear of Colonists taking their land

13. Unfinished Business
The Declaration of Independence excluded many groups of Americans
Stated that “…all men are created equal”
Failed to mention
Women
Enslaved African Americans
Native Americans
The rights of the aforementioned minorities would be subject to the rule of the majority

14. Women
Even though a great many women were Patriots, the Declaration of Independence did not discuss their rights
Abigail Adams, wife of Patriot John Adams, tried to persuade him to include women’s rights in the Declaration of Independence
Abigail Adams, a member of the Daughters of Liberty, was a pioneer of women’s rights

15. African and Native Americans
The Declaration of Independence did not recognize the rights of enslaved Africans
Why did any form of slavery exist in a land that valued personal freedom?
July 1776: Slavery was legal in all 13 colonies
1780’s: New England colonies began taking steps to end slavery

16. African and Native Americans
The Declaration of Independence did not recognize the rights of Native Americans
American colonists were quietly encroaching on Native American lands
The tendency to ignore the rights of Native Americans would develop into a pattern after the colonists won their independence from Great Britain