Declaration of Independence (Chapter 12)

The fifth excerpt declares the colonies' independence.

"(We) solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and that State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved."

The third excerpt explains why government exists. It also describes citizens' rights if the government acts unfairly.

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government."

The fourth excerpt presents a general complaint against King George III.

"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having, in direct object, the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world."

The second excerpt lists some of the rights all people should have.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

The first excerpt tells why the colonists felt they needed to write the document.

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, . . . a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

Resolution Proposed by the Second Continental Congress Virginia delegates.

* On June 7, 1776, delegates from Virginia proposed a resolution. It said that "these United Colonies are, and by right ought to be, free and independent States." *The Congress chose five men as a committee to write a document to explain why the colonies should be independent (Declaration of Independence) . John Adams and Benjamin Franklin were part of this group.Thomas Jefferson from Virginia was also a member.

Second Continental Congress

* On May 10, 1775, leaders met in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress. * George Washington arrived from Virginia. John Adams came from Massachusetts. Benjamin Franklin came back from Great Britain to represent Pennsylvania. In all, 65 delegates took part in the Congress. They came from all 13 colonies. * These men were soon acting as the new government.

This Second Continental Congress faced three key tasks.

* The most urgent task was to organize the colonies for war against the British. Just before the Congress met, British troops had fought against local Minutemen and militia. The battle took place in the towns of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The Congress knew that the colonies needed a more organized military to fight the powerful British forces. It created the Continental army and navy. * The next task was to decide who should lead the new army. Congress quickly chose a good soldier and a strong leader—George Washington. * The third and hardest task was to decide whether to declare independence from Great Britain. Some Patriots, such as John Adams, were ready to take this step. But there were still delegates loyal to King George III. They continued to hope the colonies could make peace with Great Britain.

How did the colonies celebrated the signing of the declaration of independence?

*Congress sent copies of the document to each of the colonies and to the Continental army. *Philadelphia cheered when it was read in public for the first time, on July 8, 1776. * General Washington's troops heard it the next day. Then soldiers and citizens tore down a statue of King George III. They melted the metal to make bullets. *Patriot troops in Boston fired guns and cannons to honor the event. *Everywhere, church bells rang. There were parades and bonfires. *Today, Americans still mark the birth of our country on the Fourth of July. On this date the delegates to the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration if Independence

*Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence *Adams and Franklin made a few changes to the document before passing it to Congress. *Then, on July 2, 1776 the delegates voted to separate from Great Britain. * Congress also voted to make a number of changes. Delegates from two southern colonies, where plantation owners used slaves, objected to statements about slavery. Several other delegates agreed. Jefferson had called slavery a "cruel war against human nature." The Congress took out these words. (some of these changes angered Jefferson) *Finally, on July 4, 1776, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Paine -

*Writer from The Age of Enlightenment *He came to the colonies from England in 1774. * Thomas Paine published a booklet, in January of 1776, called Common Sense.

Common Sense Booklet

*Written by Thomas Payne in 1776. * It argued that people should rule themselves rather than be ruled by a king. * It said that America could show the world a better form of government. * Many colonists still thought of Great Britain as their parent country. But in the Common Sense Booklet, Paine wrote that parents do not "make war upon their families." The blood of the Patriots killed in Massachusetts, cried out that it was time to separate from Great Britain. He said the colonists could defeat the British army. *Common Sense swayed many people. Paine wrote simply, in words that all could understand. * George Washington wrote that Common Sense was changing minds. By the spring of 1776, many people were ready to support a vote for independence.

Age of Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason.

In the mid-1700s, people in Europe were exploring new ideas about science, government, and human rights. One key idea was that all people should have freedom and fair treatment under the law.

Signing the Declaration of Independence

John Hancock signed first, writing his name in large bold letters. Then Jefferson and the other delegates signed, too.

Minuteman

a Patriot volunteer who was paid and trained to be ready to fight at a minute's notice.

Militia

a group of mostly untrained part-time soldiers who did require military service and were available for full-time paid duty when needed

Excerpt

a passage or quotation taken or selected from ,document

Where did writers of the Age of Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason published their ideas?

newspapers, pamphlets, and booklets. These ideas spread through Europe and the American colonies.

Equality

the state of having the same rights and privileges as others