The Declaration of Independence The Second Continental Congress

The Declaration of Independence

• The Second Continental Congress voted in 1776 to declare independence from England. • 15 months after the battles of Lexington and Concord. • Written by Thomas Jefferson. • 33 year old lawyer from Virginia. • Purpose was to state why it was time for the colonies to separate from England.

• He was influenced by writers of the Enlightenment (time in which thinkers used reason and logic to explain the world). • Many ideas came from philosopher John Locke. • Natural rights – guarantees certain God given rights to all men.

• DOI says all men possess unalienable (cannot be taken away) or natural rights: they include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. • Social Contract: Governments make an agreement to exist for the benefit of the people. Government is a contract between the ruler and the people. • If a government does not protect the rights of citizens, the people have the right to overthrow the bad ruler and gov. and form a better one.

Declaration Of Independence Grievances

• Best type of government is a democracy - where the power to rule comes from the people. • Formally broke all ties with England. Created United States. • Approved on July 4, 1776. • Most delegates sign it on August 2 nd.

• The Declaration of Independence promised independent states – not a united country. States were only concerned about themselves. • They didn’t want to contribute money to Continental Congress or to the Continental Army.

Signers of the Declaration of Independence • 56 signers from all 13 colonies including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin.

On July 9, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time in New York in front of George Washington and his troops. In reaction to what had been read, soldiers and citizens went to Bowling Green, a park in Manhattan, where a lead statue of King George III on horseback stood. The mob of people pulled down the statue, and later the lead was melted down to make musket balls, or bullets. It is known that 42, 088 bullets were made.

We hold these truths to be selfevident, 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.

Individuals have some basic rights that are obvious and that should not be taken away. Freedom, for example, is one of those rights.

Approved July 4 th, officially signed Aug. 2 nd, 1776 56 signers of the DOI were considered traitors to England a bounty was placed on their heads. …. The Declaration King George would of Independence view the DOI as an illegal document… Thomas Jefferson, “Father of DOI”, part of the 2 nd Continental Congress— part of a committee Jefferson introduces a new theory of government: Statement of intent--why Americans wanted to separate from England…. . • Social Contract theory • Lists grievances against King George • Power of govt. comes from the people • Lists rights and freedoms violated by • Govt. must protect England certain rights • People can alter or change the govt. Ultimate goal: • To generate support for American cause • Propaganda • Audiences: • Loyalists and other Americans who didn’t care. • British people • King George and Parliament • Other European countries