1. The Declaration of Independence

2. Fun Facts
Documents purpose was to announce the colonies were free from Britain
Committee for Five meet to write the document
Mainly written by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776
Many re-writes by the Second Continental Congress
Slavery
Wording finally approved on July 4, 1776
Singed by August 2, 1776
John Hancock
President of the Second Continental Congress
Largest signature – right in the middle

3. The Assembly Room, in which the United States Declaration of Independence and Constitution were drafted and signed, at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

4. Causes of Second Continental Congress
King George rejected Olive Branch Petition
Thomas Paine writes “Common Sense”

5. Ideas in Philosophy (ideas) of government List of Grievances
Took ideas from other thinkers of the day
John Locke
List of Grievances
Asking for support
From country men
From other countries

6. Results of Colonist now must fight to get independence
For eight years
People must choose sides
Loyalist (1/3)
Patriot (1/3)
Did not care (1/3)

7. All men are created equal
All = white male
Created = born
Equal = same
All men are equal no matter what class they are in
Lower class = upper class
All men have an equal claim to basic human rights
Why it was revolutionary at the time:
Against (opposite) the idea of class societies
Upper class better then lower class people
Does not include women and slaves and Native Americans

8. Endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights
Endowed = given by
Creator = god
Unalienable = cannot be taken away
This says that common man and ruling class have rights
Rights given to them by God not by a king
Why it was revolutionary at the time:
At this time the ruling class did not believe that ordinary man had rights
In colonial life you were valued by what you accomplished not buy what class you were born into

9. That to secure these rights governments are instituted amount men
Secure = protect
Instituted = created
Governments were formed for the people, to assist the people in obtaining their rights
Protect rights was the purpose of government
Why it was revolutionary at the time:
Opposite (against) of what rulers thought the purpose of government was
Rulers thought the people were there to serve them

10. Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed
Deriving = getting from
Consent = approval
Governed = the people
Government only has the power given to it by the people
Notice the word “just”
Why?
Swipe at King George III for his unjust laws
Why it was revolutionary at the time:
The king thought he got his power from God
Divine rights of king

11. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it.
Form = type
Destructive = to destroy, to end
Alter = change
Abolish = get rid of
Justification for the revolution
The King has ended our rights
It is not doing its job
We can get rid of it
Why it was revolutionary at the time:
No one had dare to stand up against a king at this time

12. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Your rights……
The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.