Chapter 2 – Section 2

LEQ How are the American ideals of popular sovereignty and individual rights reflected in the Declaration of Independence?

Declaration of Independence The document formally declaring the colonies were no longer a part of the British Empire

What is contained in the declaration? A list of the reasons the colonies decided to separate from Great Britain The ways the colonists tried to resolve these problems A Declaration of Independence

Human Rights Basic rights to which all people are entitled Power of the government comes from the people People have a legitimate right to change the government

Ideals of American government Liberty Equality Justice Individuality Diversity

What were the Articles of Confederation? A plan/blueprint to provide a new government for the country Adopted in 1777 by the Continental Congress

Confederation A loose association of states “firm league of friendship” Each state was independent of the others People were afraid of a strong central government

Sovereignty Absolute power Each state had to enforce national laws

How did Americans know changes were needed? No central government to organize the recovery after the revolution Property destroyed, trade with other countries had slowed, American business had slowed People thought of themselves as citizens of their state rather than the United States

Other problems under the Articles Quarrels over boundary lines of states Disputes over trade Citizens could not agree on common goals The country looked weak to other nations

How did Congress attempt to address these problems? Could not force the states to do anything Asked the states to send representatives to a meeting in Philadelphia to revise the articles No one expected the changes about to take place