Chapter 6: The American Revolution (1754-1783) Ch. 6.1: A Nation Declares Independence

Chapter 6:The American

Revolution(1754-1783)

Ch. 6.1:A Nation Declares

Independence

Why did many colonists favor declaring independence?

1776► Few colonists could have predicted

what lay ahead

► Most colonists still hoped for a peaceful end to the quarrel with Britain

1776► Who had the majority: Patriots

or Loyalists?

► Even within the Continental Congress, only about a third of the delegates supported independence

1776In short, colonists are divided

Let’s Review:

The Enlightenment

► A group of European thinkers came to believe that all problems could be solved by human reason

► They looked for “natural laws” that governed politics, society, and economics

Let’s Review:

John Locke

Let’s Review:

John Locke

► Argued that people have certain natural rights that cannot be taken away

► Challenged the idea of divine right

► The purpose of government is to protect the people’s natural rights

► People give up some individual freedoms but only to safeguard the rights of the community

Let’s Review:

John Locke

► Locke’s reasoningleads to a startlingconclusion…

In January of 1776,a pamphlet appeared on the streets of Philadelphia

In January of 1776,a pamphlet appeared on the streets of Philadelphia

Common Sense (1776)

Thomas Paine “offer[ed] nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense”

Thomas Paine “offer[ed] nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense”

► Thomas Paine tried to convince the colonists

► They did not owe loyalty to a monarch

► They owed nothing to England either

► If England had helped them, it had done so only for its own profit

► “’Tis time to part”… Americans would be far better off if they governed themselves

► The effect? Many colonists now began to think about independence…

May 1776

► Virginia authorized its delegates to support independence

► Henry Lee introduces a resolution to Congress

► “… these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states.”

Congress Breaks From Britain

► June 1776… the Continental Congress is ready to break with Britain… Why is this not an easy decision?

► Thomas Jefferson was asked to tell the world why the colonies were breaking away from Britain

► July 2nd, 1776… the Continental Congress voted that the 13 colonies were “free and independent states”

► July 4th, 1776… the delegates accepted Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

► The document has three parts:

► Part One:

► The idea of natural rights, or that rights belong to all people at birth

► “Government” is how people protect these rights

► If the gov’t fails to protect these rights, then it is the people’s right “to throw off such government”

► Part Two lists the wrongs committed by King George III and how he abused his power

► Part Three:

► Announces that the colonies had become the “United States of America”

► All ties were Britain were cut. The U.S. was free to act as an

independent nation

Why did many colonists favor declaring independence?