Lesson 4: Declaring Independence Flashcards
Common Sense Definition
a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that argued for independence from Great Britain
Declaration of Independence Definition
a 1776 document stating that the 13 English colonies were a free and independent nation
Natural Rights Definition
Rights that belong to all people from birth
Preamble Definition
an introduction to a declaration, constitution, or other official document
Robert Livingston Definition
an American lawyer and statesman from New York who served in the Second Continental Congress. He was appointed to the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence.
Roger Sherman Definition
signed the Declaration of Independence and helped to draft the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution. He later served in the U.S. Congress as both a representative and a senator.
Thomas Paine Definition
a British writer and editor who moved to Philadelphia in 1774. He wrote Common Sense, a political pamphlet in which he expressed his belief that no colonist owed loyalty to the King.
Traitor Definition
a person who betrays his or her country
Who was Thomas Paine and what did he do after the Battles of Lexington and Concord?
Thomas Paine was a British writer and editor who moved to Philadelphia in 1774. After Lexington and Concord, Paine wrote the pamphlet Common Sense , in which he set out to change the colonists’ attitudes toward Britain and the king. Colonists, he said, did not owe loyalty to George III or any other monarch. The very idea of having kings and queens was wrong, he said.
What did Thomas Paine’s criticism in common sense prompt colonists to consider?
Thomas Paine’s criticism of British rule in Common Sense prompted many colonists to consider the option of declaring full independence from Britain.
How successful was “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine?
The colonists did not owe anything to Britain, either, Paine went on. If the British had helped the colonists, they had done so for their own profit. It could only hurt the colonists to remain under British rule. “Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation,” he concluded. “’Tis time to part.” Common Sense was a great success, selling over 500,000 copies in six months. Paine’s writing played an important role in moving toward revolution.
What did Robert Henry Lee do after reading “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine?
Common Sense caused many colonial leaders to move toward declaring independence from Britain. It also deeply impressed many members of the Continental Congress. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia wrote to Washington, “I am now convinced … of the necessity for separation.” In June 1776, Lee rose to his feet in Congress to introduce a resolution in favor of independence
What was keeping the delegates from working on a document to proclaim their independence?
The delegates faced a difficult decision. There could be no turning back once they declared independence. If they fell into British hands, they would be hanged as traitors. A traitor is a person who betrays his or her country.
Who did the Continental Congress appoint to draft a formal declaration of independence?
After long debate, the Congress took a fateful step. They appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration of independence. The committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Their job was to tell the world why the colonies were breaking away from Britain.
Who did the committee ask to write the declaration of independence?
The committee asked Thomas Jefferson to write the document. Jefferson was one of the youngest delegates. He was a quiet man who spoke little at formal meetings. Among friends, however, he liked to sprawl in a chair with his long legs stretched out and talk for hours. His ability to write clearly and gracefully had earned him great respect.
When did Jefferson complete the declaration? What happened after this?
In late June, Jefferson completed the declaration, and it was read to the Congress. On July 2, the Continental Congress voted that the 13 colonies were “free and independent States.” After polishing Jefferson’s language, the delegates adopted the document on the night of July 4, 1776. They then ordered the Declaration of Independence to be printed.
Who signed the Declaration of Independence first?
John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration first. He penned his signature boldly, in large, clear letters.
How did colonists receive the Declaration of Independence?
Copies of the Declaration were distributed throughout the colonies. Patriots greeted the news of independence with joyous—and sometimes rowdy—celebrations. In New York, colonists tore down a statue of King George III. In Boston, the sound of cannons could be heard for hours.
What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence, signed by the delegates to the Second Continental Congress, served notice to King George III that the 13 colonies had separated from Great Britain.
Where is the preamble of the Declaration of Independence located? What comes after it?
The Declaration of Independence consists of a preamble, or introduction, followed by three main parts.
What does the first part of the Declaration of Independence state?
The first section of the Declaration stresses the idea of natural rights, or rights that belong to all people from birth.
What did Thomas Jefferson write in the first part of the Declaration?
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.
—The Declaration of Independence
According to the Declaration of Independence, why do people form governments?
According to the Declaration of Independence, people form governments in order to protect their natural rights and liberties.
Why did colonists want to protect what they saw as their natural rights?
The Declaration emphasized that natural rights belong to all people from birth. Colonists wanted to protect what they saw as their natural right to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
