The Declaration of Independence

Fun Facts

• Documents purpose was to announce the colonies were free from Britain

• Committee for Five meet to write the document– Mainly written by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and

June 28, 1776• Many re-writes by the Second Continental Congress

– Slavery • Wording finally approved on July 4, 1776• Singed by August 2, 1776• John Hancock

– President of the Second Continental Congress– Largest signature – right in the middle

The Assembly Room, in which the United States Declaration of Independence and Constitution were drafted and signed, at

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Causes of

• Second Continental Congress

• King George rejected Olive Branch Petition

• Thomas Paine writes “Common Sense”

Ideas in

• Philosophy (ideas) of government– Took ideas from other

thinkers of the day– John Locke

• List of Grievances• Asking for support – From country men– From other countries

Results of

• Colonist now must fight to get independence– For eight years

• People must choose sides– Loyalist (1/3)– Patriot (1/3)– Did not care (1/3)

All men are created equal

• All = white male • Created = born• Equal = same• All men are equal no matter what class they are in

– Lower class = upper class• All men have an equal claim to basic human rightsWhy it was revolutionary at the time:• Against (opposite) the idea of class societies

– Upper class better then lower class people• Does not include women and slaves and Native Americans

Endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights

• Endowed = given by• Creator = god • Unalienable = cannot be taken away• This says that common man and ruling class have rights• Rights given to them by God not by a kingWhy it was revolutionary at the time:• At this time the ruling class did not believe that ordinary

man had rights• In colonial life you were valued by what you

accomplished not buy what class you were born into

That to secure these rights governments are instituted amount men

• Secure = protect• Instituted = created• Governments were formed for the people, to assist

the people in obtaining their rights• Protect rights was the purpose of governmentWhy it was revolutionary at the time:• Opposite (against) of what rulers thought the

purpose of government was• Rulers thought the people were there to serve them

Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

• Deriving = getting from• Consent = approval• Governed = the people• Government only has the power given to it by the people• Notice the word “just”

– Why?– Swipe at King George III for his unjust laws

Why it was revolutionary at the time:• The king thought he got his power from God• Divine rights of king

Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people

to alter or to abolish it.

• Form = type• Destructive = to destroy, to end• Alter = change• Abolish = get rid of• Justification for the revolution• The King has ended our rights• It is not doing its job• We can get rid of itWhy it was revolutionary at the time:• No one had dare to stand up against a king at this time

Your rights……

The right to life, liberty and the

pursuit of happiness.