The Declaration of Independence A Mr. Catafago Production

Do Now 1. What was the 1st Continental Congress? 2. What was the 2nd Continental Congress? 3. What was Common Sense, who wrote it and what did it mean?

Recall The first Continental Congress met in 1774. They boycotted British goods and outlawed trade with the British. The Second Continental Congress met in 1775. They created the 1st Continental Army and wrote a very important document in 1776.

George Mason Called for American independence from Great Britain. Known for the Virginian Declaration of Rights, it was drafted in May 1776. Thomas Jefferson was heavily influenced by this document. It helped create the Declaration of Independence two months later and Bill of Rights in 1789.

Thomas Jefferson Was known for the Constitution of Virginia before the Declaration of Independence. He also wrote A summery view of rights of British America in 1774. This article told Americans (The colonists) they could be self-governing. He was selected to write the first draft of The Declaration of Independence. He did it in 17 days. John Adams was a huge fan of Jefferson and he saw a ton of potential in him, with his previous publications and Virginia Constitution. Jefferson was an easy choice for being the author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson came from a wealthy family and went to William and Mary for college.

The Committee The Second Continental Congress selected a committee to create (draft) a document to explain to the world why the colonies should be free. This committee included: Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and John Adams. Jefferson was chosen to write the document. He was influenced by John Locke. Jeffer

John Locke’s Second Treatises of Government clearly inspired Jefferson to write this section of the Declaration of Independence.

This is based off of John Locke’s social contract theory.

sOCIAL cONTRACT Jefferson proved in the document that it was broken by Great Britain. He had a long list of ways of how King George III abused his power.

Declaring Rights The main purpose of the Declaration of Independence was that so the colonies could SEPARATE from Great Britain. The colonies wanted to have a government that protected its people and that government would run based on “consent of governed.” This consent means that government has the authority to rule. However this authority can be taken away at any time if the government does not represent its people. The colonists were very fearful of Great Britain and its government. Their government was serving its own interests and not caring for the colonists. If government fails the people its governing, then people can have the right to rebel and overthrow the government. This was the main reason for the Declaration.

Republicanism A major philosophy that the Declaration of Independence was showing. It means a type of limited government where there are elected representatives serving the will of the people. Legitimate government is based off the consent of the people being governed. Americans were increasingly supporting republicanism.

How locke and paine influenced Remember John Locke believed in the natural rights: life, liberty, and property. Thomas Paine on the other hand believed that the English monarchy had many wrongdoings in Common Sense. Common Sense was the colonists’ rally cry to leave British rule. Liberty means freedom

Other major events North Carolina produced the Halifax Resolves. This meant that North Carolina was the 1st British colony to allow its delegates to vote for independence. The British government is suspended in Delaware after the Delaware General Assembly vote.

The Grievances Grievances- Means complains. A big portion of the Declaration of Independence includes a list of grievances against King George III and the British government. Here’s a list of some: 1. Lack of colonial representation in Parliament, 2. Heavy taxes, 3. Unfair tax laws, 4. Seizure of American ships and cargo, 5. Housing (Quartering) British troops in American homes, 6. Lack of jury trials.

Video about how Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence http://www.history.com/topics/us- presidents/thomas-jefferson/videos/jefferson-writes- the-declaration-of-independence

Activity- List of grievances Please get into groups of 2 or 3, no more than that and please do the following. On one piece of sheet of paper please write your first name and last name. Write 8 grievances you have of school, 4 for each group member. Must be appropriate for class. It will be collected and graded. We will discuss if time permits.

Tomorrow We will break the Declaration of Independence into separate pieces.