Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Intro.Intro.

Apr 1775: Fighting breaks out in Lex. & Concord.Apr 1775: Fighting breaks out in Lex. & Concord. Colonies send representatives to Philadelphia, convening Colonies send representatives to Philadelphia, convening

the 2the 2ndnd continental congress. continental congress. GW, Jefferson, Hancock, Franklin.GW, Jefferson, Hancock, Franklin. Create the Continental ArmyCreate the Continental Army Washington: Commander in ChiefWashington: Commander in Chief Col. make another attempt to make peace with Br. Col. make another attempt to make peace with Br. The attempt failed, the following summer (1776) the The attempt failed, the following summer (1776) the

Second Continental Congress approves the DOI, Second Continental Congress approves the DOI, breaking off all ties with the mother country. breaking off all ties with the mother country.

On June 7, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for On June 7, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies' independence before the Continental Congress when it met at the the colonies' independence before the Continental Congress when it met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia.

The delegates appointed a five-man committee--including Thomas Jefferson of The delegates appointed a five-man committee--including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York-to draft a formal Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York-to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain. That document would become statement justifying the break with Great Britain. That document would become known as the Declaration of Independence.known as the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

• Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.

• It took him two weeks.

• Congress voted to accept it on July 4, 1776.

Rough Draft of Declaration courtesy of American Mind Collection

Five Parts of the DeclarationFive Parts of the Declaration

PreamblePreamble Statement of the right of the people to Statement of the right of the people to

control their governmentcontrol their government Lists the tyrannical acts of the British Lists the tyrannical acts of the British

KingKing Lists the efforts of the colonists to Lists the efforts of the colonists to

avoid separationavoid separation Declares the colonies free and Declares the colonies free and

independentindependent

What is a Preamble?What is a Preamble?

A preamble is an introductory statement.A preamble is an introductory statement.

The Preamble of the Declaration of The Preamble of the Declaration of Independence explains why the American Independence explains why the American colonists thought it necessary to Break colonists thought it necessary to Break away from Englandaway from England

PreamblePreamble

When in the Course of human events, it When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…connected them with another…

Statement of Human RightsStatement of Human Rights

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

Statement of Human RightsStatement of Human Rights

Government is formed to protect rights.Government is formed to protect rights.

Britain no longer protecting colonists’ rights.Britain no longer protecting colonists’ rights.

People have a right to change the government People have a right to change the government when it becomes destructive or is no longer when it becomes destructive or is no longer effective.effective.

Charges Against the King and Charges Against the King and ParliamentParliament

List of List of 27 tyrannical acts27 tyrannical acts Some of the complaints included: Some of the complaints included:

Cutting off Cutting off tradetrade Imposing taxesImposing taxes without consent without consent Depriving colonists of Depriving colonists of Trial by JuryTrial by Jury Keeping Keeping Standing ArmiesStanding Armies without consent of without consent of

legislatures legislatures

EFFORTS OF THE COLONIES TO AVOID SEPARATION

The colonists petitioned the king asking for changes

The colonists asked the British people for help

The colonists warned parliament of their injuries and insult and asked for change

The Colonies Declare The Colonies Declare Themselves Free and Themselves Free and

Independent Independent Colonies are united. All connections with Great Britain are

dissolved.

States have power and authority to: Declare war conclude peace contract alliances establish commerce (trade)

SignaturesSignatures 56 men signed the document. 56 men signed the document. Oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin.(70)Oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin.(70) The youngest was Edward Rutledge. (26) The youngest was Edward Rutledge. (26) Most famous was John Hancock.Most famous was John Hancock. Signers from New Jersey are: Richard Signers from New Jersey are: Richard

Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham ClarkHopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

U.S. Capitol paintings. Signing of the Declaration of Independence, painting by John U.S. Capitol paintings. Signing of the Declaration of Independence, painting by John Trumbull in U.S. Capitol, detail with Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin II.Trumbull in U.S. Capitol, detail with Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin II.

American Memory Collection:

Signing of the Declaration

Declaration ResourcesDeclaration Resources

Visit American Memory Collection:Visit American Memory Collection: http://memory.loc.gov/

Visit Library of Congress Top Treasures.Visit Library of Congress Top Treasures. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/

Visit Signers Fact Sheet courtesy of National Visit Signers Fact Sheet courtesy of National Archives.Archives.

http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/declaration_signers_gallery.html

The document The document that changed a nation.that changed a nation.

This is a photo of the original This is a photo of the original Declaration. Declaration.

It is exhibited in the Rotunda It is exhibited in the Rotunda in Washington, DC. in Washington, DC.

It is extremely faded.It is extremely faded.

Photo is courtesy of National Photo is courtesy of National Archives. Archives.

http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/declaration.html

Chronology of EventsChronology of Events17761776

June 7: Congress meeting in Philadelphia, receives Richard June 7: Congress meeting in Philadelphia, receives Richard Henry Lee’s resolution urging Congress to declare Henry Lee’s resolution urging Congress to declare independence.independence.

June 12-27: Jefferson, at the request of the committee June 12-27: Jefferson, at the request of the committee (Adams, Franklin) drafts a declaration.(Adams, Franklin) drafts a declaration.

July 1-4: Congress debates and revises the DOI.July 1-4: Congress debates and revises the DOI. July 2: Congress declares independence.July 2: Congress declares independence. July 4: Congress adopts the DOI. John Dunlap prints the July 4: Congress adopts the DOI. John Dunlap prints the

DOI, “Dunlap Broadsides”.DOI, “Dunlap Broadsides”.

Did you Know?Did you Know?