1. The Colonies Declare Independence

2. The Common Sense Written by Thomas Paine Published in 1776
500,000 copies sold in six months

3. The Common Sense
Meant to change the minds of colonists towards Britain
Colonists didn’t owe loyalty to King George
The idea of Kings and Queens was wrong
Britain did everything for their own benefit

4. “In England a King hath little more to do than make war and give away [job]; which in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation…. Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.”
-Thomas Paine
Common Sense, 1776

5. Congress Votes for Independence
Declaration Committe:
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
Robert Livingston
Roger Sherman
Committee asked Jefferson to write the declaration

6. Signing of the Declaration
Late June 1776, Jefferson presented the Declaration to Congress
On July 2nd Congress voted that the colonies would be free and independent states
Document adopted and signed on July 4th 1776
Ordered it to be printed and distributed
John Hancock was the first to sign

7. The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration consists of a preamble, or introduction, followed by three main parts
Natural Rights
British Wrongs
Independence

8. 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.”

9. British Wrongs
“In every state of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A
prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free
people”

10. Independence
“ And, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”