1. The Declaration of Independence
“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…”

2. The Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal…”

3. Road to the Declaration
Following England’s victory in 1763 in the French & Indian War, the relationship changed between America and Great Britain.
England’s parliament began taxing the colonists to pay for the debt they incurred from the war.
The parliament would not allow colonists to move beyond the Appalachian Mountains to avoid conflict with Native Americans.

4. Road to the Declaration
As tensions rose between the colonists and England, the parliament sent soldiers to patrol American cities.
Events such as the Boston Massacre angered the colonists.
The Intolerable Acts which punished Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party seemed to be the last straw for the colonies.
Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, Common Sense, caused many colonists to desire political freedom from England.
In June of 1776 the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and asked a committee to write a declaration of independence from England.

5. What It WAS
A justification for a revolution
Reasons for the break with England
What it WAS NOT
A government!
Did not set up any form of government

6. Based on the Ideas of: John Locke Social Contract Theory
Natural Rights
Consent of the Governed
Right of Revolution

7. Organization of the Declaration
Section 1-Introduction:
“When In the Course of Human Events”
Reasons for separation
Section 2-Beliefs:
All Men Are Created Equal
Consent of the Governed
Right to Revolution
Section 3-Grievances:
The King Has Wronged Us
Section 4-Conclusion:
We Are Free and Independent

8. Key Facts Written By: Voted for Independence on July 2, 1776
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. He wrote every evening for 17 days. After he was done the committee made some changes to the document, like removing the reference to abolishing slavery.
Voted for Independence on July 2, 1776
Declaration adopted on July 4, 1776
Signed on August 2, 1776

9. INDEPENDENCE HALL, PHILADELPHIA

12. Purpose
Justified a revolution -- It announced to Great Britain, and the rest of the world, why the American colonies had to cut their political ties.
It declared that the American colonies were free and would govern themselves.
Of course, they would have to fight the Revolutionary War for this to become a reality.
It was written to persuade colonists still loyal to the King of England to join the fight for independence.

13. video: Declaring Independence

14. The Ideals of the Declaration: Which is most important?

15. 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, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

16. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world

17. Which Ideal is most important?
Words from the Declaration have been evoked throughout US History
MLK “I Have a Dream”
Carter’s Farewell address
“Each generation must rediscover the meaning of their hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges. For this generation, our, life is nuclear survival, liberty is human rights; the pursuit of happiness is a planet whose resources are devoted to the physical and spiritual nourishment of its inhabitants”

18. Some interesting things to note
Ben Franklin made an important edit to the paragraph on the ideals
Jefferson originally wrote: We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable.”
Franklin changed it to “self-evident”

19. Jefferson only wanted this written on his tombstone (and not a word more)
Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of Independence
Of the Statue of Virginia for religious freedom
& Father of the University of Virginia

20. Brainstorm
What are some criteria for deciding which ideal is most important?
Is it the ideal that best represents the principles of the US government?
The ideal that affects students (or the American people at large)?
The ideal that is necessary for the other ideals to exist?
The ideal that places the strongest limits on government?

21. Understanding the Declaration of Independence