The Declaration of The Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Common Sense

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense shifted American public opinion towards independence. – (Sold 120,000 copies)

Declaration of Independence

Proposed by Richard H. Lee of Virginia on June 7, 1776. A five man committee was appointed to draft the declaration Thomas Jefferson was the main author Jefferson drew upon many of John Locke’s ideas in the Declaration. It was debated at length by the 2nd Continental Congress, finally

accepted on July 4, 1776

Impact of the Declaration of Independence

Radical new concept – nobody had ever tried this before.

Challenged the authority of the most powerful country on Earth.

Declaring independence did nothing … they would have to earn their independence on the battlefield.

FOUR PARTS

The Declaration contains four distinct parts.

Preamble, Declaration of Natural

Rights, List of Grievances, and Resolution of

Independence

PREAMBLE = Introduction

Explains WHY they made the declaration. Starts with– When in the Course of human events …

Ends with:

… they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Declaration of Natural Rights Lists the rights the Founding Fathers argue

they are born with. Starts with:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal …

Ends with:

…it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

List of Grievances

(List of complaints of “He …” – King George III)

Starts with:

Such has been the patient sufference of these Colonies …

Ends with:

… Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

Resolution of Independence

Final section, argues that the colonies are “Free and Independent States” with the full power to make war, to form alliances, and to trade with other colonies.

Starts with:– We, therefore, the Representatives of the United

States of America …

Followed by signatures of all members.