The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson would write one of the most powerful documents in American History, explaining why we wanted to break away from Britain and how our government would be formed.

The Preamble When in the course of Human events it becomes necessary:  This is the Introduction of the Declaration of Independence and states the purpose of the document To dissolve the political bands which have connected them to another  Announces that they intend to break away, politically, from Britain They should declare the causes that impel them to the separations  Explains the reasons why they will separate

The Right of People to Control their Government All men are created equal […] with Unalienable rights […] of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness:  Borrowing from John Locke, Jefferson believed every white male had the above rights and if the government didn’t protect them we could abolish the government […] Under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off their government:  Britain was ruling the colonies with Tyranny and the Declaration called for the government to be overthrown To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world:  Transitions the document into an explanation of what the king did to anger the colonies

Tyrannical Acts of the British King  Listed 27 grievances the colonies had against the King:  The First five problems were with limitations against lawmaking by the colonial governments  The Next four problems addressed limited representation in the colonies and land restrictions  The next six discussed British obstruction of Justice and British military presence in the colonies

MORE acts of Tyranny  Listed 27 grievances the colonies had against the King:  The next four limited trade, imposed new taxes, and restricted the right of a trial by jury  The next three opposed the restrictions the king made on a free colonial government  The Last Five dealt with the acts of war the king ordered against the colony that they founded

Efforts of the Colonies to Avoid Separation In Every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress […] and have been answered in repeated injury  While the colonies worked for a peaceful independence, Britain used violence to put the independence down They have been deaf to the voice of justice and consanguinity […] and we must hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace friends.  The British put aside the fact that we had common ancestors and continued to fight us. They were now viewed as enemies in war, but it stated they were open to a peaceful friendship

The Colonies are declared Free and Independent […] that these United Colonies are, and right ought to be, Free and Independent States  This was the ACTUAL declaration of freedom from Great Britain […] That all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved  This Statement announced the TOTAL separation from Great Britain and gave them the right to wage war against Britain We Mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor  The people that signed the Declaration gave their total support for independence, knowing the deadly consequences of their actions

This has been another World Famous Mr. Green PowerPoint Presentation We the People of the United States….oops Wrong Document!!