The Declaration of Independence Historical Context Thomas Jefferson

The Declaration of Independence

Historical Context Thomas Jefferson About The Author • Born on April 13, 1743 in Virginia to a wealthy family. • He was very well educated. Attended The College of William & Mary. • Served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. • Eloquent correspondent, but not good public speaker • Known as the "silent member" of the Congress • Was unanimously chosen by the Committee of Five to prepare a draft of the Declaration alone.

Major Events of The Time • Common Sense is published • North Carolina produces the Halifax Resolves making it the first British colony to officially authorize its delegates to vote for independence. • Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposes a resolution calling for a Declaration of Independence. • Virginia Declaration of Rights by George Mason is adopted by the Virginia Convention of Delegates. • The Delaware General Assembly votes to suspend government under the British Crown

Intended Audience • The audience were those wanting independence from England. • International audience

Jefferson’s Viewpoint on the Major Issues of His Time • He believed in the separation of church and state. • He believed that the colonies had the right to overthrow a tyrannical government.

• Congress asked Thomas Jefferson to write a declaration, or announcement, explaining why the colonies needed to break away from Britain. • Jefferson argued that people are born with rights that cannot be taken away, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. • He felt that if your government is not actively protecting these rights, then the people should have the right to start a new government. • It took Jefferson two weeks to write the Declaration of Independence. • When he finished the draft, he had 4 other delegates help

The 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”

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

1. Preamble • The Preamble is similar to an introduction. • It states why the Declaration is being written – to explain why the colonies must break away from Britain. • Jefferson felt that to break away from your government and start a new one, you must have good reasons.

2. Declaration of Rights • The second part of the declaration states why people have rights that cannot be taken away. • It states all people are equal, and have the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. • When a government tries to take these rights away from the people, the people have the right to change the government. • The people can then form a new government that gives these rights to the people.

3. Bill of Indictment • The third section of the Declaration of Independence is the longest section. • It states all the complaints that the colonists had against the king. • The third section ends by saying the King George III of England was "unfit to be the ruler of a free people. "

List of Grievances • 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

List of Grievances • 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

4. Statement of Independence • The fourth section argues that colonies have to be free to protect their rights. • It states the colonists’ independence from Britain. • This section says the 13 states have the right to make war and peace, to trade, and to do all the things free countries can do.

5. Signatures • The last section is at the bottom of the Declaration of Independence. • In this section, delegates to Congress signed their names. • John Hancock, who was the president of Congress, signed his name in large letters

We hold these truths to be self-evident, 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.

Main Points of the Declaration of Independence • All men are created equal. “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. • Men are given by God certain unalienable rights. “They are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. ” • We have the natural right by God to declare our independence from England. “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them…

Main Points of the Declaration of Independence • Governments derive their authority from the consent of the people. “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. ” • When a government abuses it’s power, the people have the right to overthrow it. “That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it… • The colonies tried repeatedly to compromise with King George, but has been a tyrant. “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.

Historical Significance • The American Colonies finally declared their independence from England • It was the first step in the creation of a new nation.

July 4, 1776 • On July 4 th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was voted on and accepted by the Second Continental Congress. • Signing the Declaration was considered treason to Britain. • Treason is when you go against your own government. • Even with the threat of treason, the delegates signed. • The Declaration was read aloud to crowds all over the colonies. • People cheered and tore down pictures and statues of King George. • The Declaration of Independence marked the moment when Americans chose to rule themselves.

The Effects Immediate Effect • Revolution • Establishment of a new nation Lasting Effect • Commit the new nation to carry out the highest political ideals of the age

Impact Today • 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 1890 s • Vietnam War: 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

• • • Patriots Those who supported the Revolution. aka Yanks Patriot army never numbered more than 18, 000 soldiers at any one time • • Loyalists ⅓ of the colonists aka Friends of the King