The Declaration of Independence

It is an unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America It lists the grievances against King George III in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and Great Britain

The Committee of Five of the 2nd Continental Congress A team of five men who drafted and presented to Congress what would become the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776

This Declaration committee operated from June 11, 1776 until July 5, 1776 The Declaration was published on July 5, 1776

Who were the members of the 2nd Continental Congress? John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston

John Adams, Representative of Massachusetts Became the 2nd U.S. President

Thomas Jefferson, Representative of Virginia Became the 3rd U.S. President

Benjamin Franklin, Representative of Pennsylvania Known as one of the most famous of the Founding Fathers First U.S. Minister to France

Roger Sherman, Representative of Connecticut The Only person to sign all four the U.S. state papers: the Continental Association, the Declaration, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution

Robert Livingston, Representative of New York Negotiated the Louisiana Purchase as the Minister to France

The Committee of Five decided that Thomas Jefferson should write the First Draft

Historical Context Thomas Jefferson About The Author Born on April 13, 1743 in Virginia to a wealthy family. He was very well educated. Attended The College of William & Mary. Served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Eloquent correspondent, but not good public speaker Known as the "silent member" of the Congress Was unanimously chosen by the Committee of Five to prepare a draft of the Declaration alone.

June 28, 1776 the Committee of Five presented this copy to the Committee of the Whole Congress

The Congress heard the report of the Committee of the Whole The Congress declared the sovereign status of the United Colonies the following day during the afternoon of July 2nd

The Committee of the Whole then turned to the Declaration The Declaration was given a 2nd reading before adjournment

Wednesday, July 3rd, the Committee of the Whole gave the Declaration a 3rd reading There was strict scrutiny of the precise wording of the proposed text

Two passages in the Committee of the Five’s draft were not deemed necessary and were stricken The text was otherwise accepted

The Fair Copy – The draft document was referred back to the Committee of Five to prepare a “fair copy” or corrected copy

The printer was John Dunlap The Dunlap broadsides were the first published copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed on the night of July 4, 1776

It is estimated there were about 200 broadsides (sizeable sheets of paper) John Hancock, as the President of Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence

The Signing estimated time was 18:26 LMT (6:26pm local mean time) for the recording of this historic vote

The Signing on July 4, 1776 is commemorated by one of the most famous paintings in U.S. History

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The Declaration had John Hancock’s name in large type under “Signed by Order and in Behalf of the Congress” Charles Thomson was listed as the witness

The reversed watermarks indicate it was done quickly and in excitement Benjamin Franklin, the great printer was there to supervise Thomas Jefferson, the author, was close at hand

John Adams wrote, “We are all in haste” The Dunlap broadsides were sent to the colonies

The Commander-in-Chief of the Continental army, George Washington, directed that the Declaration be read to the troops Another copy was sent to England

There are 26 known broadside copies of the Declaration One was found n the back of a picture frame bought at a yard sale for $4.00 in PA; now owned by a consortium (several businesses)

The second paragraph in the Declaration lays down the philosophy for the decision to break away from England, which is that, “All men are created equal”

It states the purpose of a government is to protect “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

The Declaration of Independence states that when a government fails to do so, then the citizens have the right to overthrow it

The term overthrow is not for trivial reasons, but when treatment becomes “absolute despotism” (when the ruler holds absolute power)

There are Three Basic Principles in the Declaration of Independence Natural Rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which are given to men by their Creator, not the government Popular Sovereignty: People are the source of political authority

Order: Importance of Stability – Overthrowing a government is only the last resort

The statement that men are given by God certain unalienable rights means the government cannot take those rights away, those rights cannot be denied

Signers of the Declaration of Independence: 18 under the age of 40, three in their 20’s, half of the 56 signers were judges and lawyers, 11 were merchants, 9 were land owners and farmers, 12 were doctors, ministers and politicians

The American Colonies finally declared their independence from England It was the first step in the creation a new nation