Declaration Declaration of of

IndependenceIndependence

American Revolution reviewAmerican Revolution review

1.1. We know the 1 We know the 1stst ContinentalContinental Congress Congress gathered delegates from throughout the gathered delegates from throughout the colonies. colonies.

2.2. We know We know minutemenminutemen- members of the - members of the civiliancivilian militia fought with British soldiers militia fought with British soldiers

3.3. The first battle was in The first battle was in LexingtonLexington

4.4. The British had the nickname of The British had the nickname of ““redredcoatscoats” or “lobster backs” from their ” or “lobster backs” from their redred uniforms uniforms

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5.5. We know there was a We know there was a 22ndnd Continental Continental Congress who did the following:Congress who did the following:

a.a. decided to decided to compromisecompromise about break from about break from BritainBritain

b.b. Created the Created the ContinentalContinental ArmyArmy

c.c. Named Named GeorgeGeorge WashingtonWashington their leader their leader

6.6. We know the battle at We know the battle at BunkerBunker HillHill (Breed’s (Breed’s Hill) earned the Continental Army respect Hill) earned the Continental Army respect from the British army, even though we from the British army, even though we lostlost..

Attitudes were ChangingAttitudes were Changing

A new document began to circulate through A new document began to circulate through the colonies called “the colonies called “CommonCommon SenseSense””

It was written anonymously, so no one could It was written anonymously, so no one could judge it by its author, who was judge it by its author, who was ThomasThomas PainePaine

Common Sense argued that Common Sense argued that citizenscitizens, not , not kings and queens should kings and queens should makemake lawslaws..

It was written in common It was written in common languagelanguage to appeal to appeal to common people. to common people. (and it did!)(and it did!)

It changed the way people thought in the It changed the way people thought in the colony of their kingcolony of their king

Attitudes were ChangingAttitudes were Changing

The Great Awakening also played a The Great Awakening also played a major role in the Revolutionmajor role in the Revolution

The Great Awakening was a The Great Awakening was a widespread religious movement widespread religious movement throughout the coloniesthroughout the colonies

Like Enlightenment, it stressed the Like Enlightenment, it stressed the importance of individualism importance of individualism

This led people towards political This led people towards political independenceindependence

Creating a DeclarationCreating a Declaration

A A committeecommittee was formed to create a was formed to create a declarationdeclaration to formally announce the to formally announce the colonies break from colonies break from BritainBritain..

Note: this is Note: this is purposepurpose of the of the Declaration of Independence, to Declaration of Independence, to formallyformally separateseparate America from America from Britain!Britain!

Declaration had 3 Main IdeasDeclaration had 3 Main Ideas

1.1. JeffersonJefferson argued that all men posses argued that all men posses unalienable unalienable rightsrights. .

-including ”-including ”LifeLife, , LibertyLiberty, and the Pursuit of , and the Pursuit of HappinessHappiness.” .” -borrow from Locke “life, liberty, and -borrow from Locke “life, liberty, and property”property”

2.2. That King That King GeorgeGeorge III had violated the III had violated the colonistscolonists rights by passing rights by passing unfairunfair laws and interfering laws and interfering with colonial governmentwith colonial government

3.3. That colonists had the right to That colonists had the right to breakbreak free free from Britain. He was influenced by the from Britain. He was influenced by the Enlightenment Enlightenment idea that governments and idea that governments and rulers must rulers must protectprotect the rights of citizens and the rights of citizens and in exchange the people in exchange the people agreeagree to be to be governed. governed.

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson Main Main AuthorAuthor of of

the Declarationthe Declaration Signed the Signed the

DeclarationDeclaration Had help creating Had help creating

the declaration the declaration with other with other Patriots such as Patriots such as BenBen FranklinFranklin

Some SignaturesSome Signatures

Thomas Jefferson

Independence HallIndependence Hall

The meeting of the The meeting of the Second Continental Second Continental CongressCongress

This is where the This is where the declaration was declaration was signed on signed on

JULYJULY 44thth, 17, 177676

The SigningThe Signing

Declaration didn’t include Declaration didn’t include EveryoneEveryone

Although many Although many womenwomen were Patriots, the were Patriots, the Declaration did not address their Declaration did not address their rightsrights

Nor did the Declaration recognize the Nor did the Declaration recognize the rights of enslaved rights of enslaved AfricansAfricans

Two sides of the ArgumentTwo sides of the Argument

The argument: Should we break The argument: Should we break free from Britain?free from Britain?

Patriots: Patriots: people choosing to people choosing to fight for fight for IndependenceIndependence

Loyalists: Loyalists: people who people who remained loyal to remained loyal to Great Great BritainBritain

40-45% 40-45% were were PatriotsPatriots

20-30% 20-30% were were LoyalistsLoyalists

the rest the rest were were neutralneutral