Block 2 Colonial Actions & Documents Leading to the American Revolutions Here we will review the actions taken by the colonists in response to the British actions discussed in the previous section.  These actions occurred immediately prior to or right at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.  Also here we take a look at a couple of important documents like the Declaration of Independence and Thomas Paine's Common Sense that supported the cause of the colonists.  SSWH14 The student will analyze the Age of Revolutions and Rebellions. b. Identify the causes and results of the revolutions in England (1689), United States (1776), France (1789), Haiti (1791), and Latin America (1808-1825). Essential Question What were the causes and results of the revolution the United States?

Thomas Paine echoed the themes of the Enlightenment through his pamphlet Common Sense; he rejected prejudice and tyranny, while appealing to reason, natural laws and the promise of freedom. He called upon the colonists to break away from Great Britain while promoting independence for economic, social and moral reasons. As Common Sense began to widely circulate and convince American colonists, resentment of British policies also grew; therefore, many came to agree with Paine’s radical ideas.

Common Sense

The Declaration of Independence (1776) stated that when a government does not function for the betterment of its people, the government is ineffective, and it is the right of the people to overthrow that government (based on the ideas of John Locke). In June 1776, fifty-six delegates from the thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia to debate the question of independence from Great Britain. Congress appointed a “Committee of Five” to draft a statement presenting the colonies case for independence. Although there was a committee, Thomas Jefferson is known as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Fireworks

Thomas Jefferson began the Declaration by attempting to justify the revolution that was already underway. Using the Social Contract Theory, Jefferson declared that government derives “just powers from the consent of the governed” or from the people. This right of consent gave the people the right to alter or abolish any government that threatened unalienable rights and to put into place a government that would uphold these principles.

The Declaration of Independence is divided into five distinct parts: the introduction; the preamble; the body, which can be divided into two sections; and the conclusion.