The Declaration of Independence Flashcards
When was the Declaration of Independence?
July 4, 1776
What word shows that the 13 colonies are all in agreement on this?
Unanimous/united
What is the “Course of human events”
History events/history
What word does Jefferson use in opening of the second paragraph that means “obvious”
self-evident
Who institutes, or creates, government?
men/the people
what three basic rights do all men have?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
What word does Jefferson use to describe rights (from God) that cannot be taken away?
Unalienable
What do all men have in common?
They have rights/created equal
Where does government get its power?
the people/consent of the governed
When should government be changed or altered?
When it becomes distructed
What does Jefferson mean that government should not be changed for “light and transient causes?”
easy to fix
What words does Jefferson use to an show the King as an absolute tyrant?
despotism
What does Jefferson do to prove his point (end of 2nd paragraph)?
Starts to list their many grievances from the kings actions
What was the King’s object or goal?
to control the colonies/unleash absolute tyrany
What word shows that their mistreatment has been ongoing
repeated injuries
How does Jefferson show the colonies are not acting on impulse?
They’re patiently waiting for the suffering to end
What has the King refused to follow that were necessary for the public good?
Assent to laws (what was good for the colonies)
How has the King tried to “fatigue” people into following his law?
Unusual meetings at uncomfortable times
What has King George dissolved, which has allowed him to invade the rights of the people?
representative houses of government
What has the King refused to allow “others” to do which has placed them at risk of invasion?
Give them rights to elect others (local)
What has the King imposed without consent of the colonies?
taxes/acts (by jury)
How has the King protected these soldiers from criminal acts?
having a mock trial
What has he kept in the colonies during times of peace?
standing armies
What did the King send “swarms” of to the colonies? Why?
officers/red coats to harass colonists
what has been “deprived” from colonists on many occasions?
trial by jury
What has the King done to their seas, coasts, towns, and people?
Plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, destroyed lives of our people
Who is being sent to complete works of death and desolation?
large armies of foreign mercenaries
How have the colonies sought to oppose these “oppressions”?
Petitioned for redress (in every stage)
How do the colonists show their commitment to the Declaration (at the end)?
Pledge their lives, fortune, sacred honor to each other by signing it
What does Jefferson declare the 13 colonies “are, and of Right out to be”?
Free and independent states
When will the colonies regard Great Britain as enemies or as friends?
Enemies are at war, friends are at peace
How do the actions of the King define him? And what is he unfit to be?
Define him as tyrant unfit for the crown (ruler of free people)
