Chapter 8: The War for Independence
Chapter 8: The War For Independence Lesson 1: Declaring Independence
Describe the events that led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. State the main ideas in the Declaration of Independence and explain their significance. Our timeline: 1754-1763
Do you have a birth certificate at home? Here is mine, it tells where I was born Our country has a birth certificate of its own in a way It is called the Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence marks the beginning of the United States
MAIN IDEA: Common Sense and debates in Congress changed people s minds about being ruled by Britain. Despite the battles of 1775, many colonists still thought of King George III as their ruler The Patriots call for independence from Britain Independence freedom from being ruled by someone Some Patriots feel freedom is worth fighting for Patrick Henry tells Virginia delegates, Give me liberty or give me death! Thomas Paine uses the written word to call for independence in Common Sense
Written in January 1776 to push for independence A brief, inexpensive, and easy to understand pamphlet Paine said King George III treated the colonies unfairly Colonists bought over 100,000 copies in a few months Paine put into writing what many Patriots were saying: the colonists had nothing to gain and much to lose by staying tied to an unjust king
In the Second Continental Congress many agreed independence from Britain was necessary They also knew it was risky because Britain was a powerful country Some delegates also worried that not enough colonists supported independence
Support for independence was growing all across the country John Adams argued strongly for independence, more and more delegates agree with him Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, asks on June 7, 1776 that Congress to officially declare independence
What were Thomas Paine s arguments for independence? He said Britain treated the colonies unfairly, and independence was the only solution. What did Patrick Henry mean when he said, Give me liberty or give me death? He meant he would rather die than remain a British subject
What did Thomas Paine say was the only solution to unfair treatment by Britain? The colonies had to become independent What were the delegates concerned about regarding independence? They worried that Britain was too strong to fight against and that not enough colonists wanted independence
MAIN IDEA: The Declaration of Independence explains why the colonies should be free. Congress asks Thomas Jefferson and four others to write a declaration of independence Declaration a statement that declares, or announces, an idea. Congress wanted a document to show why the colonies had to become independent
Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence to follow what many people believed about their rights Rights freedoms that are protected by a government s laws. Jefferson argued: People are born with rights that no one can take away People have the right to live People have the right to be free People have the right to seek happiness
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, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness Jefferson argued: A government should protect rights If it does not, the people have the right to start a new government
Jefferson listed many ways the British government did not serve the colonists: King George III had tried to take away rights King George III had forced taxes on the colonists and sent soldiers to control them Jefferson showed that they had many reasons to separate from the king Jefferson showed that they had the right to create their own government
Jefferson used ideas that John Locke and other English thinkers had written Locke had maintained that government should serve the people
The full text of the Declaration is on pages R8 of your book The Declaration begins by promising to explain why the colonies must break from Britain The second section explains people have rights that cannot be taken away The third section lists complaints against King George III
The last section argues that the colonies have to be free to protect the colonists rights and declares that the colonies are independent The bottom of the document is where the delegates signed their names
Why did Congress need a document like the Declaration of Independence? Congress needed to tell colonists, Britain, and the world why the break with Britain was necessary. What did Thomas Jefferson say about rights in the Declaration of Independence? Jefferson argued that all people have rights that no one can take away.
What does Jefferson mean when he writes, All men are crated equal? That all people are the same an no one is better than anyone else. Why did the delegates sign the Declaration? They believed in w hat it said and to show their support According to the Declaration, why did the colonies have the right to their own government? Because everyone has certain rights and Britain had tried to take them away.
MAIN IDEA: The Declaration sets forth basic ideas of freedom and equality July 4, 1776, The Second Continental Congress votes to accept the Declaration The delegates knew that signing the declaration was dangerous and Britain would call it treason Treason the crime of fighting against one s own government Anyone who signed the Declaration could be charged with treason and hanged!
The Declaration was read to excited crowds and people tore down pictures and statues of King George III They celebrated by ringing bells and firing cannons The Declaration of Independence marked the moment when Americans chose to rule themselves
Did the words all men are created equal mean everyone then? Probably not. In 1776, not everyone had the same rights Only white men who owned property could vote Many believed this was unfair then Abigail Adams wanted Congress to recognize the equal rights of women She wrote to her husband, John Adams, in the new code of Laws Remember the Ladies
The Declaration is important today because it states the United States believes in equal rights for all It took many years, but women, African Americans, American Indians, and other groups have gained equality in rights The Declaration has inspired people, past and present, to work for liberty and equal rights
What did Abigail Adams want Congress to do? She wanted Congress to give women more rights. What are some ways we uphold equal rights for all? Laws have been passed to make discrimination illegal.
The colonies decided to declare their independence from Britain Congress asked Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence The Declaration states that everyone has certain rights that no government can take away
The rights of freedom and equality that Jefferson wrote about are important American values and principles today.
How did Common Sense help lead to independence? It increased support for independence. Why did delegates need courage to sign the Declaration? To sign the Declaration was treason, a crime punishable by death under British law. Who was Patrick Henry and what did he believe about independence? Patrick henry was a Virginia Patriot who believed that life without independence was worthless.
How many months before the signing of the Declaration was Common Sense printed? Six months. How are Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence alike? How are they different? Alike: Both supported independence, state why British rule was unfair and why the American colonies should separate. Different: Common Sense was a personal opinion addressed to colonists; the Declaration was an official document addressed to the world.