CHAPTER 4: “The American Revolution”

SECTION 2: “Declaring Independence”

-Common Sense: 47-page pamphlet that was distributed in Philadelphia January 1776.Author was published anonymously (without author’s name).

-Thomas Paine (author), argued that citizens, not kings and queens, should make laws.

-Pamphlet sold 500,000 copies over many of the colonies. Paine reached a wide audience because he wrote as a common person speaking to common people.

-Common Sense changed the way many colonists viewed their king and made strong case for economic freedom and right to military self-defense.

•Paine’s Common Sense:

-Second Continental Congress formed committees to write a document declaring independence and to create a seal for the new country.

-The Latin Motto for the new country, “E. pluribus unum” or “out of many, one”. Motto recognized new union of states.

-Declaration of Independence: formally announced the colonies’ break from Great Britain.

-Written by Thomas Jefferson.

•Independence Declared:

-(3) main ideas:

1. All people possess unalienable rights, including the rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.

2. King George III violated colonist’s rights by taxing them without consent and unfair laws.

3. Colonies had the right to break from Britain, because the King broke the social contract (government must protect citizens rights, in return, citizens agree to be governed).

•Independence Declared:

-July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress approved Declaration of Independence.

-This act broke all ties to the British crown.

-The United States of America was born.

•Independence Declared:

-Signing of Declaration of Independence, made rebellion a full scale revolt against Britain.

-Colonists who chose to side with the British, known as Loyalists (also called Tories).

-40% - 45% Americans were Patriots. 20% - 30% Americans were Loyalists.

-500,000 Loyalists fled the country in fear of persecution by Patriots. Many fled to Canada, abandoning their homes and properties.

-Divided allegiances tore apart friendships and families.

•Choosing Sides:

-Declaration of Independence excluded many colonists. The rights of the minorities would be subject to the rule of the majority.

-Minorities: women, enslaved Africans, and Native Americans.

•Unfinished Business:

Women:

-Many women were Patriots, but Declaration did not address their rights.

-Abigail Adams tried to influence her husband, John Adams, to include women’s rights in Declaration.

Native Americans:

-Colonists disregarded Proclamation of 1763, by settling on lands that belonged to Native Americans.

•Unfinished Business:

Enslaved Africans:

-Why did any form of slavery exist in a land that valued personal freedom?

-July 1776 slavery was legal, but by 1780s New England colonies were taking steps to end slavery.

•Unfinished Business: