Declaration of Independence

Loyalists, Patriots, & Neutrals three groups of colonists  Loyalists (pro-Britain)  Patriots (pro-Revolution)  Neutrals (noncommittal)

Loyalists Those loyal to the British Crown Conservatives About 1/5 of pop. “Tories”  Former British officers/soldiers  Anglicans  Royal Gov. Officials  Newer immigrants  Many slaves

Patriots Those who support some form of Revolution Liberals Vary in their goals – limited reform, extensive change, full revolution 2/5 of pop.  Farmers  Plantation Owners  American Merchants  Elected office holders

Neutrals Those who were not seriously committed to either side 2/5 of pop. Quakers, Pacifists, “fair-weather fans”, those who didn’t care about politics To Patriots, apathy or neutrality was a crime  “If you’re not for us, you’re against us”

Second Continental Congress Delegates had been convened in Philadelphia since May 1775 Even though the Colonies were at war with Great Britain, Congress still hoped for reconciliation with the “mother country”  Americans up to this point were fighting for their rights as natural born Englishmen Representation in Parliament, judicial rights, etc.  Many still felt somewhat loyal to Britain Had already proposed peace at the end of 1775  Olive Branch Petition  Many delegates still felt that America had no chance of winning a prolonged war with Britain  There was not a pro-Independence majority in Congress  John Dickinson (PA) was the leader of the non-independence faction of Congress

Rumblings of Independence Events in late 1775 and early 1776 began to change people’s minds about Independence  King’s rejection of the Olive Branch Petition  Prohibitory Act Blockaded American ports  Stopped all trade Declared all American ships to be enemy vessels  Britain began recruiting mercenaries to strengthen their military force  Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

Common Sense Thomas Paine published Common Sense on Jan 1, 1776  47 page pamphlet  Sold 500,000 copies in the first year Enormous influence on American thinking  Everyone had read it or knew about it  Donated profits to Continental Army Explained the reasons why America ought to declare Independence Wrote in a style that everyone could understand  "Every thing that is right or natural pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'tis time to part."  “There is something very absurd in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island."  “For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have the right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others for ever, and though himself might deserve some decent degree of honors, his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them.”

The Independence Movement John Adams spearheaded the effort in Congress to declare Independence  Began to tirelessly campaign for a final separation with Britain Delegates such as Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, Roger Sherman, and others supported the cause Sent Richard Henry Lee (VA) back to Virginia to get his the House of Burgesses to pass a resolution for Independence  Lee Resolution submitted to Congress on June 7 th  “Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

Committee of Five Congress decided to postpone a vote on Independence  Creates a Committee of Five to draft a document that outlines the reasons for Independence John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, & Robert Livingston Jefferson is assigned the task of writing the document  June 11-28

Thomas Jefferson Jefferson is assigned the task of writing the document  He is a Virginian First colony Not associated with Boston “radicals”  Great Writer  No reputation in Congress, like John Adams Quiet, non-confrontational June Uses his portable writing desk of his own design Draws on Enlightenment principles  John Locke English writer, philosopher  Natural rights Rights that everyone has, regardless of nationality  Social Contract b/w Gov and its citizens Governments derive their power from the people Governments should work to serve the public interest

The Declaration of Independence (1817) by John Trumbull

Vote on Lee Resolution After a Declaration was formalized, Congress resumed debate on Virginia’s Resolution on Independence on July 1 st  Agreed that the vote should be unanimous No colony should be pulled from Britain against their will  Each colony would have one vote Delegates from each colony would vote amongst themselves  Some colonies such as Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Delaware were split or still unsure  Called for an additional postponement

July 2 nd, 1776 Caesar Rodney (DA) rode through the night from Delaware to arrive in Philadelphia, breaking Delaware’s tie, and voting for Independence Edward Rutledge (SC) realized the need for unanimity, and voted for Independence John Dickinson (PA) did not want to be the one holding America back from Independence and rode home before the vote, breaking Pennsylvania’s tie and allowing them to vote for Independence The Lee Resolution passed on July 2 nd, 1776 and the Colonies declared their Independence  “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” - John Adams

The Debate on the Declaration Over the next two days, Congress debated the wording of the Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration  Deleted over ¼ of the text Including a passage condemning the slave trade Jefferson took many of the changes personally Finally, on July 4 th Congress finally approved the Declaration  Sent to printer, John Dunlap, for publication Dunlap Broadsides  Final document not signed until August 2 nd Had to be printed Needed all members present

The Declaration of Independence Introduction (preamble)—states the purpose for writing the document:  To “declare the causes” that forced the colonists to separate from England.

The Declaration of Independence Political philosophy which justifies this action (rationale):  Natural Rights – rights given to everyone by God  Government’s purpose is to preserve Natural Rights (“life, liberty and pursuit of happiness”)  Popular Sovereignty – “the people rule,” governments are created by the people, not imposed upon them

The Declaration of Independence List of complaints against the King and Parliament:  Unfair taxes  Interference with colonial trade and economy  Standing armies in the time of peace  Suspension of colonial legislatures

The Declaration of Independence Efforts of the colonists to reconcile their differences with England:  28 complaints against England  Olive Branch Petition  King George’s rejection of these requests is evidence of his tyranny

The Declaration of Independence Declaration as an Independent and United Nation:  Declare Independence – direct quote of Lee Resolution  Pledge among the delegates for support of this Declaration with “our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”