Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

HessiansHessians

When the King refused the Olive Branch When the King refused the Olive Branch Petition, he called for a blockade of Petition, he called for a blockade of American ports, and hired 10,000 American ports, and hired 10,000 Hessians to fight in America.Hessians to fight in America.

Abigail AdamsAbigail Adams

(Wife of John (Wife of John Adams)Adams)

(Mother of John (Mother of John Quincy Adams)Quincy Adams)

Urged her Urged her husband: husband: “remember the “remember the ladies”ladies”

Continental CongressContinental Congress

Richard Henry Lee of Richard Henry Lee of Virginia made a Virginia made a resolution. (proposal)resolution. (proposal)– Become independent Become independent

statesstates

– Form foreign alliancesForm foreign alliances

– Prepare a plan for Prepare a plan for confederation.confederation.

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

The congress formed a The congress formed a “Declaration “Declaration Committee”Committee” to write a Declaration of to write a Declaration of Independence.Independence.

–Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania)Benjamin Franklin (Pennsylvania)–John Adams (Massachusetts)John Adams (Massachusetts)–Robert Livingston (New York)Robert Livingston (New York)–Roger Sherman (Connecticut)Roger Sherman (Connecticut)–Thomas Jefferson (Virginia)Thomas Jefferson (Virginia)

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

Divided into five sections.Divided into five sections.

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

The First Section: Introduction on why the The First Section: Introduction on why the declaration was written.declaration was written.

““When in the course of human events it When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to dissolve the becomes necessary to dissolve the political bands which have bound them to political bands which have bound them to another…”another…”

In other words: It is not only our right to In other words: It is not only our right to declare our independence, it’s our duty.declare our independence, it’s our duty.

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

Section #2Section #2

Statement of principles about people’s right Statement of principles about people’s right and the powers of government.and the powers of government.

““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…”unalienable rights…”

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

……that among these are Life, Liberty, and that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”the pursuit of happiness.”

In other words: It is a list of fundamental In other words: It is a list of fundamental rights guaranteed to us by our creator and rights guaranteed to us by our creator and goes on to explain the responsibilities of goes on to explain the responsibilities of governments in charge.governments in charge.

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

Section #3Section #3Long list of complaints of unfair actions of Long list of complaints of unfair actions of

the government of King George III.the government of King George III.““He has rendered the military independent of He has rendered the military independent of

and superior to the Civil power.”and superior to the Civil power.”In other words: This is what you did that was In other words: This is what you did that was

so wrong.so wrong.This section makes up 50% of the This section makes up 50% of the

declaration.declaration.

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

Section #4Section #4

This is a summary of the things that the This is a summary of the things that the Americans tried to do to end the unfair Americans tried to do to end the unfair treatment.treatment.

““We have petitioned for redress in the most We have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms:”humble terms:”

In other words: we tried to do things In other words: we tried to do things peacefully but you ignored us.peacefully but you ignored us.

The Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence

Section #5Section #5

This is our decision to break away from This is our decision to break away from England.England.

““That these United Colonies are, and of That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent Right ought to be Free and Independent States.”States.”

In other words: This is our official In other words: This is our official declaration of independence.declaration of independence.

The Debate beginsThe Debate begins

July 1, 1776 Congress began to debate July 1, 1776 Congress began to debate the resolution.the resolution.

Not everyone wanted independence.Not everyone wanted independence.

The southern states insisted that Jefferson The southern states insisted that Jefferson remove a section from his original draft remove a section from his original draft that called for the freeing of slaves.that called for the freeing of slaves.

Independence DayIndependence DayJuly 4, 1776 John Hancock, the July 4, 1776 John Hancock, the President of the Second Continental President of the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration. Congress signed the Declaration.