1. K2S4: Learning Goal #2: Explain the purpose, ideas and arguments of the Declaration of Independence in relation to natural rights and list specific grievances.

2. Timeline Review What does ALL of this lead to?
The French & Indian War
Boston Tea Party 1770
First Continental Congress 1774
Salutary Neglect
Quartering Act 1765
Townshend Act of 1767
Mercantilism
Proclamation of 1763
Boston Massacre
1770
Stamp Act Act 1765
Intolerable Acts 1774
Battle of Lexington and Concord 1775
What does ALL of this lead to?
INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN!

3. I. The Declaration of Independence

4. A. The Second Continental Congress
Met in 1776 to write the Declaration of Independence
Influenced by two main things:
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
The idea of Social Contract

5. B. Writing the DoI Main author of the DoI = Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson claimed that the King did not look after the interests/rights of the colonies anymore
The DoI listed all of the grievances the colonist had towards the British crown
Grievances = complaints

6. C. Influences
Common Sense (Thomas Paine)
Social Contract (J.J. Rousseau)
Natural Law (John Locke)
Separation of Powers (Baron de Montesquieu)

7. II. Risks in Writing the DoI
A. Writing the DoI:
86 changes made in 1 day!
Nearly 1/5 of the document was eliminated
Final word count 1,337 word

8. B. Writing the Document Signers
56 signers: at least one from each of the 13 colonies
By signing their names to the document, each of the 56 men were committing TREASON against the British Crown
“We must indeed all hang together,
or most assuredly, we shall all
hang separately.”
- Benjamin Franklin

9. C. Approving the DoI
The signers, as representatives of the American people, declared American Independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776!
Most signers signed on August 2nd

10. Part 2: Rights of the Colonists (Natural Rights)
III. Parts to the DoI
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Rights of the Colonists (Natural Rights)
Part 3: Complaints (grievances the colonists had against King George III)
Part 4: Declaration of a NEW NATION! (USA! USA! USA!)

11. Explains why the Continental Congress drew up the Declaration
A. Introduction
Explains why the Continental Congress drew up the Declaration
“When in the Course of Human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth…a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation…”

12. B. Rights
i. Explains that in a republic, people form a government to protect their rights.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident (clearly true), that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable (inalienable) rights (Cannot be taken away), that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness… government are instituted among men to secure these rights… governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed (permission of the people)… that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government. (Social contract = natural rights + the role of the government) According to this, what is the relationship between natural rights and the role of the government?

13. C. Complaints
Lists the colonists grievances against King George III and the British Govt.
Examples:
He refused assent to laws (laws written by the Colonies)
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without Consent of our legislature (quartering soldiers)
He…has imposed taxes on us without our consent
He has taken away our right to a trial by jury
He has limited our judicial powers
He has dissolved our legislatures
Overall the colonists were oppressed (unjust treatment) by the tyranny of the King.
What is the connection between these grievances and natural rights?

14. D. Declaration of a New Nation
Declares that the colonies are now free independent states
Being an independent nation =
Power to declare war
Power to form alliances with other countries
Power to trade with other countries

15. K2S4: Part C

16. K2S4: Part C
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable 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 of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…

17. The DoI, The MOST FAMOUS break up letter in history…
Like break up letters there are also break up songs
Answer the following questions as we watch a break up song dedicated to King George III from the 13 colonies:
TJ (the singer) is writing the DoI with which continental congress? (first or second)
What THREE natural rights do they sing about?