The Declaration of Independence

• Many historians consider this document the most important protest document in the history of man.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

• RI HAD ALREADY DECLARED INDEPENDENCE--MAY 4, 1776

• RICHARD LEE OF VA. ASKED CONGRESS TO “SEPARATE FROM BRITAIN AND ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT UNION--JUNE 7, 1776

• COMMITTEE FORMED TO WRITE A DECLARATION--THOMAS JEFFERSON, JOHN ADAMS & BEN FRANKLIN

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

• JEFFERSON(THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE) GIVEN THE JOB OF WRITING THE DOCUMENT

• MOST THOUGHT THAT THE DOCUMENT ITSELF WOULD NOT BE VERY SIGNIFICANT--JUST A “FOOTNOTE IN HISTORY”

• JULY 2, 1776, THE DECLARATION IS APPROVED 12-0 WITH NY ABSTAINING

• JULY 4, 1776, JOHN HANCOCK SIGNS IN LARGE LETTERS SO THAT “THE KING CAN READ MY NAME WITHOUT HIS SPECTACLES”

• ALL OTHERS SIGN ON AUGUST 2, 1776

• MANY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD SIGNED THEIR OWN DEATH WARRANT.

THE DECLARATION IS DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS

• PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION--THE PREAMBLE--WHY IT WAS WRITTEN

• POLITICAL FOUNDATION--THE BODY OF THE DOCUMENT--WHAT THE KING AND PARLIAMENT HAS DONE TO BREAK THE CONTRACT

• PRACTICAL FOUNDATION--THE CONCLUSION--STATES THAT THE COLONIES ARE NOW A FREE NATION

PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION

• WHY THE DECLARATION WAS WRITTEN• “WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT….”• ANY GOVERNMENT AND ITS CITIZENS HAVE A

CONTRACT.• THE GOVERNMENT’S ONLY JOB IS TO PROTECT THE

RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS• A GOVERNMENT ONLY EXISTS WITH THE CONSENT

OF THE GOVERNED• WHEN A GOVERNMENT STOPS DOING ITS JOB-

BROKEN THE CONTRACT-THEN THE CITIZENS SHOULD GET RID OF THE GOVERNMENT AND START A NEW ONE

POLITICAL FOUNDATION

• LISTS ALL THE THINGS THE KING AND PARLIAMENT HAS DONE TO BREAK THE CONTRACT

• LISTS ALL THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE KING “…HE HAS…”

• THIS LIST THE ACTIONS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT (KING & PARLIAMENT)WHICH HAS LED TO THE LOSS OF COLONIAL RIGHTS

PRACTICAL FOUNDATION

• THE CONCLUSION• SAID THAT THE COLONIES ARE

NOW THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

• ALL TIES WITH GREAT BRITAIN WERE CUT

• A NEW COUNTRY AND NATION WAS FORMED

For more information on the “most enduring protest document in human history” just click on the declaration.