Chapter 20 Flashcards
PREAMBLE OF DECLARATION-Part One
Explains that when a people wish to dissolve their connection with a government, it is right to explain why they are doing so.
Declaration of Independence
Second Continental Congress
Philadelphia
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman
July 4,1776
Meant to tell why the colonies were breaking away from England
THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO CONTROL THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT- Part Two
“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; that to secure these rights Governments are instituted among men…”
- Gives the American viewpoint on government.
- People are born with certain rights and that governments are formed to protect these rights.
- When a government does not protect these rights, the people have a duty to set up a new government.
- The “unalienable rights” are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE -GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE KING- PART THREE
- Tyrannical acts of the British King
- 27 of them
- Examples:
- Denied lawmaking powers
- Denied trial by jury
- Taxed without consent
- Limited trade
- Replaced civilian rule and law with martial law
- Quartering of soldiers
- Interfered with justice in the colonies
- Neglected pressing problems hired mercenaries
- Ignored peaceful overtures and petitions of his subjects
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE -EFFORTS OF THE COLONIES TO AVOID SEPARATION AND TO CHANGE ENGLISH POLICIES- PART FOUR
- Colonists tried really hard
- Colonists sent petitions to king to try correct grievances
- The king rejected these attempts.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE- THE COLONIES ARE DECLARED FREE AND INDEPENDENT-PART FIVE
- Colonies are independent from England
- 56 representatives from the 13 colonies signed
- USA
“All men are created equal” grievances
- We are all equal in the eyes of God
-entitled to equal rights:
the right to be free, the right to live, the right to be able to try to find the kind of life which makes us happy
-Did not mention women (“all men” ) but in the 18th century the word “men” or “mankind” included both men and women.
-Did not mention blacks rights, but said men, so probably meant all were to be equal - Did not mention women or blacks
- meant to tell why we were breaking away from England, but did much more
Thomas Jefferson
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Was one of the youngest members of the continental congress
Good writer
Virginian
Described as a silent member in congress, prompt, honest, seized upon hearts
Did not approve of slavery, even though he owned slaves for himself
The Committee
- the committee: Sam Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson
- These five (5) men wrote the declaration of independence
- it took over a year to write
Sam Adams
-Started the sons of liberty
-Firebrand, a hot head, someone who sparks the revolution
-good writer and thinker
-true busybody/agitator
-always getting everyone involved or excited or something
-New Englander from Boston with a Puritan background
-knew a break from England was necessary
-Boston Tea Party, fought against stamp act
-The english called Adams a public enemy, an outlaw, and a rebel
they wanted to hang him
Roger Sherman
- helped write the declaration of independence
- signed declaration of indeppendence
- part of the continental congress
- described as awkward and unaccountably strange in matter, no man has a better heart nor a clearer head
- was a farmer/shoe maker
- puritan background
- from connecticut
Robert Livingston
- was on the committee
- helped write Declaration of Independence
Benjamin Franklin
part of the committee
oldest delegate to congress
signed the Declaration of Independence
helped write declaration of independence
