1. The American Revolution Section 2
Chapter 4
U.S. History
Mr. Kissam

2. Declaring Independence
The Big Idea
The colonies formally declared their independence from Great Britain.
Main Ideas
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense led many colonists to support independence.
Colonists had to choose sides when independence was declared.
The Declaration of Independence did not address the rights of all colonists.

3. Paine’s Common Sense
Common Sense: a forty-seven-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, published in January 1776

4. Paine’s Common Sense
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense argued that citizens, not monarchs, should make laws
Urged separation from Great Britain
Argued for economic freedom and the right to military self-defense

5. Paine’s Common Sense
Cried out against tyranny, the abuse of government power
Reached a wide audience, selling some 500,000 copies
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense led many colonists to support independence and challenge British Authority.

6. Independence is Declared
Many colonial leaders agreed with Thomas Paine’s ideas.
Second Continental Congress created a committee in June 1776 to write a document declaring independence.

7. “Declaration of Independence”
Thomas Jefferson

8. A New Philosophy of Government
Thomas Jefferson was main author of the Declaration of Independence .

9. Independence is Declared
Thomas Jefferson had clearly defined arguments in the declaration.
First, that all people had the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Next, colonists believed King George III had violated their rights by taxing them without their consent.

10. A New Philosophy of Government
The idea that the colonies had the right to break away from Britain was based on the Enlightenment idea of the social contract.

11. Parts of the Declaration
Preamble (Opening)
Natural Rights of Man
Abuses of the King (List of Grievances)
Final Statement of Independence
The Reading of the Declaration

12. Independence is Declared
Declaration of Independence formally announced break with Great Britain.
Approved on July 4, (VC)
Now colonists had to choose sides when independence was declared.

14. Choosing Sides Patriots-chose to fight for independence.
About 40 to 45 percent of Americans were Patriots.
Loyalists-sometimes called Tories, remained loyal to Britain.
About 20 to 30 percent of Americans were Loyalists.
Neutral-About 25 percent of Americans remained neutral.

15. A new motto for the United States
The committee created a seal for the new country with the motto, “E pluribus unum” which means “out of many, one”

16. Unfinished Business Declaration ignored many colonists.
Did not address the rights of women
Did not recognize the rights of enslaved African Americans
Did not address the rights of Native Americans to life, liberty, or property

17. Questions page
What was the main argument did Thomas Paine’s Common Sense?
What was the significance of the Declaration of Independence?
Who was the author of the Declaration of Independence?
What were the three main arguments in the Declaration of Independence?