1. The Declaration of Independence
Mr. Condry’s Social Studies Class

2. Objectives You will be able to:
explain the events that led up to the colonies severing ties with Great Britain
understand the main grievances the colonials had with Great Britain
analyze the importance of the Declaration of Independence today

3. Background to Declaration of Independence
Mercantilism: economic policy from in which nations encouraged exports as a means of collecting gold and silver
Government controls all trade
Colonies ensured a safe and steady stream of raw materials for England, including fur, fish, cotton, tobacco, and indigo
Colonies were expected to import manufactured and processed goods like iron products and tea
Navigation Act: England regulated what its colonies could and could not trade

4. Background to the Declaration of Independence
After England won the French and Indian War, King George III demanded control over the colonies
King George and Parliament felt the colonists should bear some of the costs and administration of the areas acquired from France.
Parliament passed several new acts designed to shift to the Americans some of the cost of defense

5. Background to the Declaration of Independence
Stamp Act: required that all printed materials be stamped to indicate that tax had been paid
England began to change trade policies as well by used a new monopoly on tea
Colonists were angered over the taxes
“No taxation without representation”
Stamp Act was repealed in 1766
Boston Massacre 1770 rioting over taxes and the British soldiers killed a man outside of the courthouse in Boston. Crispus Attucks first to die

6. Why Did the Declaration of Independence Happen?
Boston Tea Party: a group of angry colonists boarded 3 ships in Boston and threw the tea overboard
Intolerable Acts series of laws designed to punish the people of Massachusetts. It limited the power of the colonial
legislature, required quartering of British soldiers and closed the port of Boston
First Continental Congress formed

7. Second Continental Congress 1775-1776
Convened May 19, 1775
George Washington appointed Commander in Chief of the Continental Forces
Appointed 5 men to write a declaration stating the colonies intent and reasons for independence
June delegates met and debated, each colony had one vote
Deliberated for one year
January 1776 Common Sense by Thomas Paine explained why there should be independence to the public

8. 4 Parts of the Declaration of Independence
Preamble
Declaration of Natural Rights
List of Grievances
Resolution of Independence

9. PREAMBLE First part of the Declaration of Independence Introduction
Explains why the Continental Congress wrote the Declaration of Independence

10. Preamble
“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to separate.”
When it is necessary for people to separate from their government, these people need to tell others the reasons why they are separating.

11. Declaration of Natural Rights
Second part of the Declaration of Independence
Lists the rights of the citizens
Explains that in a republic, the government is there to protect the rights of the people
Jefferson calls these rights UNALIENABLE rights, which means they can never be taken away

13. Declaration of Natural Rights
“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.”
Only men are mentioned in the Declaration
These ideas are taken from the Enlightenment thinker, John Locke who said people have natural rights like life, liberty and property.

14. Declaration of Natural Rights
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed…”
Only Men mentioned
Government’s job is to protect the rights of the people
Governments should get their power from the people they govern

15. Declaration of Natural Rights
“ That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government and provide new Guards for their future security.”
If a government is not protecting the people’s rights the people have the right AND obligation to overthrow that government and start a new one.

16. List of Grievances Third part of the Declaration of Independence
List of the colonists’ complaints with England’
They specifically blame King George III
There are 28 grievances, or complaints, that are listed in this section of the Declaration of Independence

17. List of Grievances that were Improper Actions by the King
Dismissing colonial legislatures and denying the colonists their right for self-government
Tax the colonists without their consent
Maintaining an army in the colonies without the consent of the legislature and elevating the military above civilian authority
Forcing colonists to house British soldiers in their house

18. List of Grievances that were Improper Actions by the King
Making judges dependent on the King for their salaries and their tenure in office
Refusing colonists the right to a fair trial in front of a jury of their peers
Cutting off the trade of the colonies
Abolishing the Charters, forms of government, and important laws of the colonies
Refusing to address colonial grievances
Renouncing the King’s authority to govern the colonies by waging war on them
Encouraging domestic violence and Indian attacks on the colonies

19. Resolution of Differences
Second Continental Congress drafted the Declaration of Independence. Approved for signature July 2
July Declaration written by Thomas Jefferson was signed, John Hancock signed first with the largest signature
Severed ties with Great Britain

20. Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson understood what the actions entailed
Wanted to make sure the document explained why the colonists wanted to separate
The second paragraph lays down the philosophy for the decision.
“All men are equal”
Government was to protect “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” fundamental rights of all
When the government failed to do so, citizens have a right to overthrow it
Overthrow is not for trivial reasons, but when treatment becomes “absolute despotism”

21. Three Basic Principles of the Declaration of Independence
Natural Rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Popular Sovereignty: People are the source of political authority
Order: Importance of stability, overthrowing a government is only the last resort

22. Results from the Declaration of Independence
86 Changes were made
500 words were taken out
1,337 words were included
18 signers were under the age of 40
Three were in their 20s
Half of the 56 signers were judges and lawyers
11 were merchants
9 were land owners and farmers
12 were doctors, ministers and politicians

23. Future Impact
Ideals of equality led to Civil War, Women’s Rights and the Civil Rights Movement
Influenced the French Revolution in their Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789
Latin American Movements of 1890s
Vietnam War: Ho Chi Minh used it as a reason to invade the south
During World War II it was kept at Fort Knox KY
More than 1 million Americans view it in the National Archives each year

24. New Hampshire Delegation
Josiah Bartlett
Matthew Thornton
William Whipple

25. Massachusetts Delegation
John Adams
Samuel Adams: Had a $35,000 price on his head during the American Revolution
Elbridge Gerry
John Hancock: Elected Governor of Massachusetts 10 times and had a $50,000 price on his head during the American Revolution
Robert Treat Paine

26. Rhode Island Delegation
William Ellery
Stephen Hopkins

27. Connecticut Delegation
Samuel Huntington: Elected Governor of Connecticut 10 times
Roger Sherman
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott

28. New York Delegation William Floyd Francis Lewis Philip Livingston
Henry Misner (left before signing)
Lewis Morris

29. New Jersey Delegation Abraham Clark John Hart Francis Hopkinson
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon

30. Pennsylvania Delegation
George Clymer
John Dickinson (did not sign)
Benjamin Franklin
Robert Morris
John Morton

31. Pennsylvania Delegation (cont.)
George Ross
Benjamin Rush
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson

32. Delaware Delegation
Thomas McKean
George Read
Cesar Rodney

33. Maryland Delegation Charles Carroll: Last signer to die at 95 in 1832
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone

34. Virginia Delegation Carter Braxton Benjamin Harrison Thomas Jefferson
Francis Lightfoot Lee

35. Virginia Delegation (cont.)
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
George Wythe

36. North Carolina Delegation
Joseph Hewes
William Hooper
John Penn

37. South Carolina Delegation
Thomas Heyward
Thomas Lynch
Arthur Middleton
Edward Rutledge

38. Georgia Delegation
Button Gwinnett: Died in a duel in 1777 at 42 most valued signature due to only 14 examples that exist.
Lyman Hall
George Walton

39. Information on the Signers
The following signers lost their lands, homes and possessions due to signing and being in the American Revolution.
Carter Braxton
Abraham Clark: 2 of his sons died in the Revolution, both were prisoners aboard British prison ship, “Jersey” in NY Harbor, 11,000 American captives died on this ship.
George Clymer
William Ellery

40. Information on the Signers (cont.)
William Floyd
Lyman Hall
John Hart: Lost his wife, 13 children and home
Thomas Heyward
William Hooper

41. Information on the Signers (cont.)
Francis Lewis: His wife was taken prisoner by the British and died two years after release. His property near Harlem, NY was completely destroyed
Arthur Middleton: Was a British prisoner along with Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward and sent to St. Augustine, FL.
Thomas Nelson: Fired a cannon at his mansion because it was being used by the British and died destitute and bankrupt. He raised $2 million for the Revolution and was never repaid.
Richard Stockton: Beaten and put in jail and starved, ending up an invalid. Lost estate and his family had to live off of charity.

42. Information on the Signers (cont.)
Philip Livingston: All his possessions in NY were confiscated
Louis Morris: All his timber, crops and livestock were taken and barred from his home and family for 7 years
Dr. John Witherspoon: President of College of New Jersey, later Princeton. Princeton was occupied and library burned.

43. Information on the Signers (cont.)
Robert Morris: Merchant in Philadelphia, raised arms and provisions for Washington’s army. He lost 150 ships at sea.
Dr. Benjamin Rush
John Morton: Had views of a Tory prior to signing.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.: Developed health problems while a company commander in the army. He was told to seek a cure in the West Indies and he and his wife were drowned at sea.

44. Information on the Signers (cont.)
Of the 56, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war
5 were captured and imprisoned, all brutally treated
12 saw their homes burned
17 lost everything they owned
Not one went back on their word
All stood by the Declaration of Independence

45. Results from the Declaration of Independence
Most of them had large estates, all but two had families
Each had more to lose from revolution than gain
John Hancock already had a price on him and had the largest signature to ensure the King could read it