LOYALIST: If we separate from England, it will be disastrous for business. England not only provides us with a market for our goods, but she protects our trade on land as well as at sea. As colonies of the British Empire, we have grown very prosperous; on our own we face certain ruin. 1. Why does the loyalist believe separation from England would be “disastrous for business?” 2. What is the Patriot’s view on the effects on business if the Colonies separate? 3. Does the loyalist feel more English or American? Explain. 4. Does the Patriot feel more English or American? Explain 5. What does the Patriot mean when he say's "Give me liberty or give me death!" PATRIOT: We will be much better off without England controlling our trade. We’ll be free to trade with anyone we please and we won’t be forced to buy English manufactured goods any longer. It’s high time for us to develop our own manufacturing. England has been taking advantage of us too long; the time has come for us to strike out on our own. LOYALIST: But to sever ties with our mother country is unthinkable. We are all English people; we speak the same language, have the same traditions, the same rights, and owe allegiance to the same king. To separate from England would be cutting ourselves off from all we hold dear PATRIOT: England and America are a long distance apart. That in itself is proof that one was never meant to rule over the other. Since coming to this country, we have learned to manage our affairs on our own. We are Americans now––not English people. They would tax us, but give us no say in how we are governed. Give me Liberty or give me death!!!

Historical background: the Declaration of Independence: 1774 In response to the Intolerable Acts colonial representatives met in Philadelphia to discuss taking action against England! **This meeting in Philadelphia was most important because it established the 1st Continental Congress, America’s 1st government. TODAY INDEPENDENCE HALL, in Philadelphia: Many of our founding fathers met for the 1st time here. 1600 1650-1660 1700 1754-1763 1765 1770 1773 1774 1775 1776 2

1775: Fighting erupted in Lexington and Concord The Continental Congress met and issued the OLIVE BRANCH PETITION: a final attempt by colonies to make peace with England. In it they requested that King George end the Intolerable Acts. King George refused and declared the colonies to be in a state of rebellion 1600 1650-1660 1700 1754-1763 1765 1770 1773 1774 1775 1776

On the 4th of July, the five Representatives from the 1776: On the 4th of July, the five Representatives from the Colonies called the COMMITTEE OF FIVE: wrote the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote the final copy. Roger Sherman Connecticut Thomas Jefferson Virginia Robert Livingston New York Ben Franklin Pennsylvania John Adams Massachusetts

Influential Person They were influenced by a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine earlier that year titled titled COMMON SENSE. 120, 000 copies distributed throughout the American colonies 6 months before July 4th, 1776

"Small islands not capable of protecting themselves are the proper Thomas Paine used very simple language, so that most Americans could understand. "Small islands not capable of protecting themselves are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something very absurd in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island." Continent

The Declaration of Independence was a petition that gave reasons why Americans had the right to break away from England. Most of the document is a list of complaints against the King. 56 delegates from the 13 colonies signed it, declaring America a nation independent from England. 1600 1650-1660 1700 1754-1763 1765 1770 1773 1774 1775 1776

...For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us ...For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world ...For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

Dear England, I’m not sure how to start this letter but I feel we need to talk. I’ve been thinking a lot about us lately. Things used to be great but aren’t anymore. I mean like everyone said we were perfect for each other! I really thought we would be together forever but things really changed… I feel like you started to take me for granted, you just started to do whatever you wanted and never even asked me about anything or how I felt about it. I’ve been thinking about this for a while and I don’t want to hurt you but I think its time we broke up. I mean its just not going to work. I need some time by myself to see what it is like be on my own. I’m sorry things didn’t work out but I DO think you are to blame. Sorry but ‘US’ is over. Love, The American Colonies XOXOXOXO

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness It is very clear that God has created all men equally with basic rights Purpose of a government created by the people is protect our basic rights If the gov does not protect our basic Rights then we can overthrow the gov and replace it with a new one The new gov will have the job of making Sure its citizens are safe and happy

Key words: Self-evident: obvious, without need for proof Endowed: to inherit, be given Deriving: receiving from Just: justice, fair Destructive: ruin, destroy Instituted: to establish, build Alter: to change Abolish: to get rid of Inalienable rights: basic rights that can’t be taken away from you by a government