The Declaration of The Declaration of Independence and Its Independence and Its

SignersSignersWhat sacrifices did these men make?What sacrifices did these men make?

ObjectivesObjectives

Students will be able to explain the events that Students will be able to explain the events that led up to the colonies severing ties with Great led up to the colonies severing ties with Great BritainBritain

Students will understand the main grievances Students will understand the main grievances the colonials had with Great Britainthe colonials had with Great Britain

Students will be able to analyze the Students will be able to analyze the importance of the Declaration of Independence importance of the Declaration of Independence todaytoday

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions What were four factors that led to the drafting and approval of the What were four factors that led to the drafting and approval of the

Declaration of Independence?Declaration of Independence?

How can the formation of the American government be seen as an How can the formation of the American government be seen as an illustration of the Enlightenment philosophy?illustration of the Enlightenment philosophy?

What were three purposes of the Declaration of Independence?What were three purposes of the Declaration of Independence?

What were 4 grievances that the American Colonists had against Great What were 4 grievances that the American Colonists had against Great Britain in 1776?Britain in 1776?

How well does America today live up to the ideals of the Declaration of How well does America today live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence?Independence?

Background to Declaration of Background to Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Mercantilism:Mercantilism: economic policy from 1500-1800 in economic policy from 1500-1800 in which nations encouraged exports as a means of which nations encouraged exports as a means of collecting gold and silvercollecting gold and silver

Government controls Government controls allall trade trade Colonies Colonies ensured a safe and steady stream of raw ensured a safe and steady stream of raw

materials for England, including fur, fish, cotton, materials for England, including fur, fish, cotton, tobacco, and indigotobacco, and indigo

Colonies Colonies were expected to import manufactured and were expected to import manufactured and processed goods like iron products and teaprocessed goods like iron products and tea

Navigation ActNavigation Act:: England regulated what its colonies England regulated what its colonies could and could not tradecould and could not trade

Background to the Declaration of Background to the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

After England won the French and Indian War, King After England won the French and Indian War, King George III demanded George III demanded control control over the coloniesover the colonies

King George and Parliament felt the colonists should King George and Parliament felt the colonists should bear some of the bear some of the costs costs and administration of the areas and administration of the areas acquired from France.acquired from France.

Parliament passed several new Parliament passed several new acts acts designed to shift designed to shift to the Americans some of the cost of defenseto the Americans some of the cost of defense

Background to the Declaration of Background to the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Stamp Act: Stamp Act: required that all printed required that all printed materials be stamped to indicate that tax materials be stamped to indicate that tax had been paidhad been paid

England began to change England began to change trade trade policies as policies as well by used a new monopoly on teawell by used a new monopoly on tea

Colonists were angered over the Colonists were angered over the taxestaxes ““No No taxation taxation without representation” without representation” Stamp Act was repealed in Stamp Act was repealed in 17661766 Boston Massacre 1770 Boston Massacre 1770 rioting over taxes rioting over taxes

and the British soldiers killed a man and the British soldiers killed a man outside of the courthouse in Boston. outside of the courthouse in Boston. Crispus Attucks first to dieCrispus Attucks first to die

Why Did the Declaration of Why Did the Declaration of Independence Happen?Independence Happen?

Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party:: a group of a group of angry colonists boarded 3 ships angry colonists boarded 3 ships in Boston and threw the tea in Boston and threw the tea overboardoverboard

Intolerable ActsIntolerable Acts series of laws series of laws designed to punish the people of designed to punish the people of Massachusetts. It limited the Massachusetts. It limited the power of the colonial legislature, power of the colonial legislature, required quartering of British required quartering of British soldiers and closed the port of soldiers and closed the port of BostonBoston

First Continental Congress First Continental Congress formed formed

Second Continental Congress 1775-Second Continental Congress 1775-17761776

Convened Convened May 19, 1775May 19, 1775 George WashingtonGeorge Washington appointed appointed

Commander in Chief of the Commander in Chief of the Continental ForcesContinental Forces

AppointedAppointed 5 5 men to write a men to write a declaration stating the colonies declaration stating the colonies intent and reasons for intent and reasons for independenceindependence

June 1775 June 1775 56 56 delegates met and delegates met and debated, each colony had one debated, each colony had one votevote

Deliberated for Deliberated for one yearone year January 1776 January 1776 Common SenseCommon Sense by by

Thomas Paine explained why Thomas Paine explained why there should be independence to there should be independence to the publicthe public

Resolution of DifferencesResolution of Differences Second Continental Congress Second Continental Congress

drafted the Declaration of drafted the Declaration of Independence. Approved for Independence. Approved for signature July 2signature July 2

July 4 1776 Declaration written by July 4 1776 Declaration written by Thomas Jefferson was signed, Thomas Jefferson was signed, John Hancock John Hancock signed first with signed first with the largest signaturethe largest signature

Severed ties with Great BritainSevered ties with Great Britain

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson understood what the Thomas Jefferson understood what the

actions entailedactions entailed

Wanted to make sure the document explained Wanted to make sure the document explained why the colonists wanted to separatewhy the colonists wanted to separate

The The second paragraph second paragraph lays down the lays down the philosophy for the decision.philosophy for the decision.

““All men are equal”All men are equal”

Government was to protect Government was to protect “life, liberty, and “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” fundamental rights the pursuit of happiness,” fundamental rights of allof all

When the government failed to do so, citizens When the government failed to do so, citizens have a right to overthrow ithave a right to overthrow it

Overthrow is not for trivial reasons, but when Overthrow is not for trivial reasons, but when treatment becomes treatment becomes “absolute despotism”“absolute despotism”

Three Basic Principles of the Three Basic Principles of the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

Natural RightsNatural Rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of : life, liberty, and the pursuit of happinesshappiness

Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty: People are the source of : People are the source of political authoritypolitical authority

OrderOrder: Importance of stability, overthrowing a : Importance of stability, overthrowing a government is only the last resortgovernment is only the last resort

List of Grievances that were List of Grievances that were Improper Actions by the KingImproper Actions by the King

Dismissing colonial legislatures and denying the Dismissing colonial legislatures and denying the colonists their right for colonists their right for self-governmentself-government

Tax Tax the colonists without their consentthe colonists without their consent Maintaining an Maintaining an army army in the colonies without the in the colonies without the

consent of the legislature and elevating the military consent of the legislature and elevating the military above civilian authorityabove civilian authority

Forcing colonists to Forcing colonists to househouse British soldiers in their British soldiers in their househouse

List of Grievances that were List of Grievances that were Improper Actions by the KingImproper Actions by the King

Making judges dependent on the Making judges dependent on the KingKing for their salaries and for their salaries and their tenure in officetheir tenure in office

Refusing colonists the Refusing colonists the right to a fair trial right to a fair trial in front of a jury of in front of a jury of their peerstheir peers

Cutting off the Cutting off the tradetrade of the colonies of the colonies Abolishing the Abolishing the ChartersCharters, forms of government, and important , forms of government, and important

laws of the colonieslaws of the colonies Refusing to address Refusing to address colonial grievancescolonial grievances Renouncing the King’s authority to Renouncing the King’s authority to governgovern the colonies by the colonies by

waging war on themwaging war on them Encouraging Encouraging domestic violence domestic violence and Indian attacks on the and Indian attacks on the

coloniescolonies

Results from the Declaration of Results from the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

8686 Changes were made Changes were made 500500 words were taken out words were taken out 1,3371,337 words were included words were included 1818 signers were under the age of 40 signers were under the age of 40 ThreeThree were in their 20s were in their 20s HalfHalf of the 56 signers were judges and lawyers of the 56 signers were judges and lawyers 1111 were merchants were merchants 99 were land owners and farmers were land owners and farmers 1212 were doctors, ministers and politicians were doctors, ministers and politicians

Do you think there were Do you think there were consequences for severing consequences for severing ties with Great Britain?ties with Great Britain?What do you think some might have What do you think some might have

been?been?

Impact TodayImpact Today

Ideals of Ideals of equality equality led to Civil War, Women’s Rights led to Civil War, Women’s Rights and the Civil Rights Movementand the Civil Rights Movement

Influenced the Influenced the French Revolution French Revolution in their in their Declaration Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789in 1789

Latin American Latin American Movements of 1890sMovements of 1890s Vietnam WarVietnam War: Ho Chi Minh used it as a reason to : Ho Chi Minh used it as a reason to

invade the southinvade the south During World War II it was kept at During World War II it was kept at Fort Knox KYFort Knox KY More than 1 million Americans view it in the More than 1 million Americans view it in the

National Archives National Archives each yeareach year

New Hampshire DelegationNew Hampshire Delegation

Josiah BartlettJosiah Bartlett Matthew ThorntonMatthew Thornton William WhippleWilliam Whipple

Massachusetts DelegationMassachusetts Delegation John AdamsJohn Adams Samuel Adams: Had a Samuel Adams: Had a

$35,000 price on his head $35,000 price on his head during the American during the American RevolutionRevolution

Elbridge GerryElbridge Gerry John Hancock: Elected John Hancock: Elected

Governor of Governor of Massachusetts 10 times Massachusetts 10 times and had a $50,000 price and had a $50,000 price on his head during the on his head during the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

Robert Treat PaineRobert Treat Paine

Rhode Island DelegationRhode Island Delegation

William ElleryWilliam Ellery Stephen HopkinsStephen Hopkins

Connecticut DelegationConnecticut Delegation

Samuel Huntington: Samuel Huntington: Elected Governor of Elected Governor of Connecticut 10 timesConnecticut 10 times

Roger ShermanRoger Sherman William WilliamsWilliam Williams Oliver WolcottOliver Wolcott

New York DelegationNew York Delegation

William FloydWilliam Floyd Francis LewisFrancis Lewis Philip LivingstonPhilip Livingston Henry Misner (left Henry Misner (left

before signing)before signing) Lewis MorrisLewis Morris

New Jersey DelegationNew Jersey Delegation

Abraham ClarkAbraham Clark John HartJohn Hart Francis HopkinsonFrancis Hopkinson Richard StocktonRichard Stockton John WitherspoonJohn Witherspoon

Pennsylvania DelegationPennsylvania Delegation George ClymerGeorge Clymer John Dickinson (did not John Dickinson (did not

sign)sign) Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin Robert MorrisRobert Morris John MortonJohn Morton

Pennsylvania Delegation (cont.)Pennsylvania Delegation (cont.)

George RossGeorge Ross Benjamin RushBenjamin Rush James SmithJames Smith George TaylorGeorge Taylor James WilsonJames Wilson

Delaware DelegationDelaware Delegation

Thomas McKeanThomas McKean George ReadGeorge Read Cesar RodneyCesar Rodney

Maryland DelegationMaryland Delegation Charles Carroll: Last Charles Carroll: Last

signer to die at 95 in signer to die at 95 in 1832 1832

Samuel ChaseSamuel Chase William PacaWilliam Paca Thomas StoneThomas Stone

Virginia DelegationVirginia Delegation

Carter BraxtonCarter Braxton Benjamin HarrisonBenjamin Harrison Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson Francis Lightfoot LeeFrancis Lightfoot Lee

Virginia Delegation (cont.)Virginia Delegation (cont.)

Richard Henry LeeRichard Henry Lee Thomas Nelson, Jr.Thomas Nelson, Jr. George WytheGeorge Wythe

North Carolina DelegationNorth Carolina Delegation

Joseph HewesJoseph Hewes William HooperWilliam Hooper John PennJohn Penn

South Carolina DelegationSouth Carolina Delegation

Thomas HeywardThomas Heyward Thomas LynchThomas Lynch Arthur MiddletonArthur Middleton Edward RutledgeEdward Rutledge

Georgia DelegationGeorgia Delegation

Button Gwinnett: Button Gwinnett: Died in a duel in 1777 Died in a duel in 1777 at 42 most valued at 42 most valued signature due to only signature due to only 14 examples that 14 examples that exist.exist.

Lyman HallLyman Hall George WaltonGeorge Walton

Information on the SignersInformation on the Signers

The following signers lost their lands, homes The following signers lost their lands, homes and possessions due to signing and being in the and possessions due to signing and being in the American Revolution.American Revolution.

Carter BraxtonCarter Braxton Abraham ClarkAbraham Clark: 2 of his sons died in the : 2 of his sons died in the

Revolution, both were prisoners aboard British Revolution, both were prisoners aboard British prison ship, “Jersey” in NY Harbor, 11,000 prison ship, “Jersey” in NY Harbor, 11,000 American captives died on this ship. American captives died on this ship.

George ClymerGeorge Clymer William ElleryWilliam Ellery

Information on the Signers (cont.)Information on the Signers (cont.)

The following signers lost their lands, homes The following signers lost their lands, homes and possessions due to signing and being in and possessions due to signing and being in the American Revolution.the American Revolution.

William FloydWilliam Floyd Lyman HallLyman Hall John HartJohn Hart: Lost his wife, 13 children and : Lost his wife, 13 children and

homehome Thomas HeywardThomas Heyward William HooperWilliam Hooper

Information on the Signers (cont.)Information on the Signers (cont.)

The following signers lost their lands, homes and The following signers lost their lands, homes and possessions due to signing and being in the American possessions due to signing and being in the American Revolution.Revolution.

Francis LewisFrancis Lewis: His wife was taken prisoner by the : His wife was taken prisoner by the British and died two years after release. His property British and died two years after release. His property near Harlem, NY was completely destroyednear Harlem, NY was completely destroyed

Arthur MiddletonArthur Middleton: Was a British prisoner along : Was a British prisoner along with Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward and sent with Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward and sent to St. Augustine, FL.to St. Augustine, FL.

Information on the Signers (cont.)Information on the Signers (cont.)

The following signers lost their lands, homes and The following signers lost their lands, homes and possessions due to signing and being in the American possessions due to signing and being in the American Revolution.Revolution.

Thomas NelsonThomas Nelson: Fired a cannon at his mansion : Fired a cannon at his mansion because it was being used by the British and died because it was being used by the British and died destitute and bankrupt. He raised $2 million for the destitute and bankrupt. He raised $2 million for the Revolution and was never repaid.Revolution and was never repaid.

Richard StocktonRichard Stockton: Beaten and put in jail and starved, ending up an invalid. Lost estate and his family had to live off of charity.

Information on the Signers (cont.)Information on the Signers (cont.)

Philip LivingstonPhilip Livingston: All his possessions in NY : All his possessions in NY were confiscatedwere confiscated

Louis MorrisLouis Morris: All his timber, crops and : All his timber, crops and livestock were taken and barred from his home livestock were taken and barred from his home and family for 7 yearsand family for 7 years

Dr. John WitherspoonDr. John Witherspoon: President of College of New Jersey, later Princeton. Princeton was occupied and library burned.

Information on the Signers (cont.)Information on the Signers (cont.)

Robert Morris: Merchant in Philadelphia, raised arms and provisions for Washington’s army. He lost 150 ships at sea.

Dr. Benjamin Rush John Morton: Had views of a Tory prior to signing. Thomas Lynch, Jr.: Developed health problems

while a company commander in the army. He was told to seek a cure in the West Indies and he and his wife were drowned at sea.

Information on the Signers (cont.)Information on the Signers (cont.)

Of the 56, Of the 56, ninenine died of wounds or hardships died of wounds or hardships during the warduring the war

55 were captured and imprisoned, all brutally were captured and imprisoned, all brutally treatedtreated

1212 saw their homes burned saw their homes burned 1717 lost everything they owned lost everything they owned Not one went back on their word Not one went back on their word All stood by the Declaration of IndependenceAll stood by the Declaration of Independence

Results from the Declaration of Results from the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Most of them had large estates, all but two had Most of them had large estates, all but two had familiesfamilies

Each had more to lose from revolution than Each had more to lose from revolution than gaingain

John Hancock already had a price on him and John Hancock already had a price on him and had the largest signature to ensure the King had the largest signature to ensure the King could read itcould read it

Questions to Answer: Questions to Answer: CHOOSE 4 50 pointsCHOOSE 4 50 points

What were four factors that led to the drafting and approval of the Declaration of What were four factors that led to the drafting and approval of the Declaration of Independence?Independence?

How can the formation of the American government be seen as an illustration of How can the formation of the American government be seen as an illustration of the Enlightenment philosophy?the Enlightenment philosophy?

What were three purposes of the Declaration of Independence?What were three purposes of the Declaration of Independence?

What were 4 grievances that the American Colonists had against Great Britain in What were 4 grievances that the American Colonists had against Great Britain in 1776?1776?

Why was it necessary for Jefferson to outline the philosophy of the new nation Why was it necessary for Jefferson to outline the philosophy of the new nation instead of just listing what they king did wrong?instead of just listing what they king did wrong?

What does “pursuit of happiness” mean?What does “pursuit of happiness” mean?

How well does America today live up to the ideals of the Declaration of How well does America today live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence?Independence?

Open Response: CHOOSE ONEOpen Response: CHOOSE ONE Can you connect the actions of the British Parliament Can you connect the actions of the British Parliament

towards to colonists to the start of the American towards to colonists to the start of the American Revolution? Use three actions to support your case. Revolution? Use three actions to support your case. Describe each action and explain how it led to Describe each action and explain how it led to colonial discontent and revolt.colonial discontent and revolt.

What are two lessons about decision making What are two lessons about decision making emphasized today in our study of the signers of the emphasized today in our study of the signers of the Declaration of Independence? Were there costs Declaration of Independence? Were there costs involved? What were the rewards and consequences involved? What were the rewards and consequences of the decisions made by these men?of the decisions made by these men?

Results from the Signing of the Results from the Signing of the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence