Daily Spark

Today Common Sense Declaration of Independence Choosing Sides

Thomas Paine On January 9, 1776, a 47pg pamphlet hit the streets of Philadelphia. The author, Thomas Paine, a self-educated Quaker. About 2 years before he met Benjamin Franklin who helped Paine become the editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine. Then in 1776 Paine produced a work that changed the course of American History

Paine’s Common Sense In his pamphlet Common Sense, Thomas Paine argued for breaking away from Great Britain. News spread of the work through the 13 colonies, and eventually sold 500,000 copies. Common Sense became popular because of its message and style. Most pamphlets were written by lawyers in a style that only well-educated people could understand. Paine wrote as a common person speaking to common people, which reached a wider audience.

Common Sense Paine stated that the system of monarchy in countries such as Britain was not fair. He said people, not kings and queens should make the laws. In a time when monarchs ruled most countries of the world, this was a fairly new idea. With the war now underway, the idea of independence gained more and more supporters.

Declaring Independence Many colonists agreed with Paine that the colonies should be free. In June 1776 the 2nd Continental Congress created a committee to write a document declaring the colonies’ independence. The committee members were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman, Jefferson was the main author of the document

Declaration of Independence 1st point The Declaration of Independence expresses three main ideas: Jefferson argued that all men possess unalienable rights That those basic rights include “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The writing of Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke inspired the idea of unalienable rights. What does life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness mean to you?

Declaration of Independence 2nd point Jefferson’s 2nd point was that King George III had violated the colonists rights. Like Thomas Paine, he charged the king with passing unfair laws and interfering with colonial government. He also accused the king of taxing colonists without consent. The presence of a large British army in the colonies upset Jefferson.

Declaration of Independence 3rd Point Jefferson argued that the colonies had the right to break away from England. Jefferson was influenced by the Enlightenment ideas of the social contract, which states that rulers should protect the rights of their citizens. In exchange, the people agree to be governed. Jefferson said that because the king had broken the social contract the colonists need no longer obey him. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. This act broke all ties to the British Crown. The United States of America was born Knowing what you know, did King George break the social contract with the colonists? Why or why not?

Choosing Sides Colonists who chose to fight for independence became known as Patriots. Those who remained loyal to Great Britain were called Loyalists or Tories.

Not Choosing Many other colonists remained neutral, choosing neither side. People on both sides felt very strongly about their views. Once the Declaration of Independence was signed, Loyalists became targets of abuse by Patriots. More than 100,000 Loyalists fled the colonies, many went to Canada.