2. The Declaration of Independence Many historians consider this document the most important protest document in the history of man.

3. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE RI HAD ALREADY DECLARED INDEPENDENCE--MAY 4, 1776 RICHARD LEE OF VA. ASKED CONGRESS TO “SEPARATE FROM BRITAIN AND ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT UNION--JUNE 7, 1776 COMMITTEE FORMED TO WRITE A DECLARATION--THOMAS JEFFERSON, JOHN ADAMS & BEN FRANKLIN

4. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE JEFFERSON(THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE) GIVEN THE JOB OF WRITING THE DOCUMENT MOST THOUGHT THAT THE DOCUMENT ITSELF WOULD NOT BE VERY SIGNIFICANT--JUST A “FOOTNOTE IN HISTORY” JULY 2, 1776, THE DECLARATION IS APPROVED 12-0 WITH NY ABSTAINING JULY 4, 1776, JOHN HANCOCK SIGNS IN LARGE LETTERS SO THAT “THE KING CAN READ MY NAME WITHOUT HIS SPECTACLES” ALL OTHERS SIGN ON AUGUST 2, 1776 MANY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD SIGNED THEIR OWN DEATH WARRANT.

5. THE DECLARATION IS DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION--THE PREAMBLE--WHY IT WAS WRITTEN POLITICAL FOUNDATION--THE BODY OF THE DOCUMENT--WHAT THE KING AND PARLIAMENT HAS DONE TO BREAK THE CONTRACT PRACTICAL FOUNDATION--THE CONCLUSION--STATES THAT THE COLONIES ARE NOW A FREE NATION

6. PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION WHY THE DECLARATION WAS WRITTEN “WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT….” ANY GOVERNMENT AND ITS CITIZENS HAVE A CONTRACT. THE GOVERNMENT’S ONLY JOB IS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS A GOVERNMENT ONLY EXISTS WITH THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED WHEN A GOVERNMENT STOPS DOING ITS JOB- BROKEN THE CONTRACT-THEN THE CITIZENS SHOULD GET RID OF THE GOVERNMENT AND START A NEW ONE

7. POLITICAL FOUNDATION LISTS ALL THE THINGS THE KING AND PARLIAMENT HAS DONE TO BREAK THE CONTRACT LISTS ALL THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE KING “…HE HAS…” THIS LIST THE ACTIONS OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT (KING & PARLIAMENT)WHICH HAS LED TO THE LOSS OF COLONIAL RIGHTS

8. PRACTICAL FOUNDATION THE CONCLUSION SAID THAT THE COLONIES ARE NOW THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ALL TIES WITH GREAT BRITAIN WERE CUT A NEW COUNTRY AND NATION WAS FORMED

9. For more information on the “most enduring protest document in human history” just click on the declaration.