The Declaration of Independence

John Trumbull, John Trumbull, Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, 1817. , 1817.

“Declaration Day”

A desperate situationA desperate situationForced to retaliationForced to retaliation

The task ahead a burdenThe task ahead a burdenMen will suffer, that's for certainMen will suffer, that's for certain

We'll charge into the fireWe'll charge into the fireThe cause, we must inspireThe cause, we must inspire

We raise our fists to tyrannyWe raise our fists to tyrannyA high price, freedom is not freeA high price, freedom is not free

The odds are stacked against usThe odds are stacked against usBut with our resolve relentlessBut with our resolve relentlessAnd arrogance their weaknessAnd arrogance their weakness

Our cause is just, we won't be beatenOur cause is just, we won't be beatenUpon this declarationUpon this declaration

Will come a brand new nationWill come a brand new nationWhere men are seen as equalWhere men are seen as equal

Governed by and for the peopleGoverned by and for the people

• Chorus:So we make our stand and pray

On this Declaration DayFor independence I will fight

With liberty I will defySo we make our stand and pray

On this Declaration DayGive me liberty or give me death

I'll fight till my last breath

With virtue as our beaconOur cause is charged as treason

Battle worn and starvingThrough the hell of war we'll keep marching

The birth of our new nationAn act of desperation

We'll force King George down to his kneesCapitulation

Chorus

•Independence from Great Britain was NOT declared at the beginning of the war; many colonists did not favor a total break with Britain.•Since there were no such things as public opinion polls in 1775-1776, it is impossible to know what most colonists thought at any given moment during this time about breaking away from Britain.•Most of the members of the Continental Congress were of a deeply conservative nature and the war effort required the support of every colony, especially those colonies like NY, PA, and SC, which were dominated by economic interests with deep ties to the mother country.•Over the course of 1775, however, many Americans started to turn against the king due to escalating conflicts and oppressive laws.•The colonists’ failed invasion of Canada also did much to bring about a declaration of independence. Those military disasters at Quebec and the St. Lawrence River led Congress to make the break. Only by declaring independence could the Congress hope for aid from the French.

• January 1776, Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense, which calls for independence and a new government—one run by the consent of the people (republicanism). The pamphlet also spoke out against the foolishness of monarchy and that reconciliation with Britain would inhibit American commerce and lives.

• Inspired by Paine’s arguments, Patriot conventions throughout the colonies urged a break from Britain.

• On July 1, the Continental Congress created a committee to draft a declaration of independence.

• The Declaration of Independence: Authored by Thomas Jefferson, consists of 5 parts:

• 1)The Preamble, 2) Statement of Human Rights, 3) Charges against Human Rights, 4) Charges against the King and Parliament, 5) the Statement of Separation and Signatures from colonial delegates.

• The ideas/arguments themselves were not totally original. After all, Jefferson’s task was to simply write up a formal statement explaining further our decision to become independent.

• The Continental Congress approves the idea of independence on July 2nd, but formally approves the DOI (the document) itself on July 4th!

• The document is not officially signed by all members of the Congress until August.