The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence (DOI) was influenced by a variety of sources n English Bill of Rights n John Locke n

What did the English Bill of Rights guarantee? How?

What concepts was Locke known for?

Class Work Partner with one person in the class n In your own words, translate the following two passages n

Passage One n “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, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. ”

Passage Two n “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, [72] 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. ”

Parts of the Constitution n Opening statement n n Preamble n n States the principles of the Independence Movement List of Grievances n n Declares purpose of the document Reasons behind the Movement Two remaining sections n One details the steps taken by the colonies to address the grievances • Also includes Britain’s response n Final Statement of Commitment to the DOI

So What? Never before had a colony broken away from the parent nation n First true Declaration of Independence n n Independence wasn’t the rule or assumed • Had NEVER been done

Declaration Historical Notes n Declaration was not easy to pass n n Several factions fighting within the Congress Required all the colonies to vote unanimously n Why?

n Northern Colonies n Earliest to feel Britain’s show of force • Boston, MA n Southern Colonies n Wealthy, economy driven by slave labor • Had to protect interests n Other colonies were similarly caught between their traditional and practical ties to Great Britain and their own outrages and interests