1. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE The Beginning of a New Nation

2. How did we get here?  Who were the colonists?  How many colonies were there in the early days of the now United States?  Why did the colonists want to break away from the King of England?  What was happening to the colonists that increased the colonists need to become more unified against the king?

3. How did the D.O.I. come about?  June 1776 speeches were made to Congress that the colonists needed to be free  Many statesmen realized that the British were not going to change their colonial control  A committee was formed to write a formal letter to the King to announce their decision  Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the document  It was submitted in late June 1776 and a final copy was approved.

4. July 4, 1776 the colonists declared themselves to be free states The Signing of the Declaration of Independence