Declaring Independence Section 3

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Transcript of Declaring Independence Section 3

Chapter 4Section 3

Declaring Independence

I. IntroductionA. British Soldiers occupied Boston

B. Minutemen held hills overlooking Boston

Bunker Hill

I. IntroductionC. June 17, 1775 Britain attacked Breed’s Hill (Bunker Hill)

1. British soldiers advanced up hill 3 times

I. IntroductionC. June 17, 1775 Britain attacked Breed’s Hill (Bunker Hill)

2. Colonists retreated only when they ran out of gunpowder

3. 900 British casualties

4. Proved that colonists would would stand and fight

Bunker Hill

“A few such victories will ruin our army”British officer after Bunker Hill

II. Debating IndependenceA. Representatives from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia

1. May 10, 17752. Radicals favored break from Britain

3. Conservatives favored favored staying loyal to Britain

4. Most delegates were moderates

II. Debating IndependenceB. Since shots were already fired, first business was to create army

1. Appointed George Washington commander of Continental Army

Washington Appointed Commander in Chief of

Continental Army

Washington’s Flag

II. Debating IndependenceC. Common Sense

1. Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine

2. Paine was recent immigrant from England

Thomas Paine

Born: February 9, 1737

Wrote: Common Sense; The Crisis;Rights of Man; Age of Reason; Agrarian Justice;

After American Revolution went toFrance and was involved in their Revolution. Was given honorary French citizenship and, despite notspeaking French was elected to French National Convention.Was later arrested by the Frenchand eventually returned to America.

II. Debating IndependenceC. Common Sense

3. Convinced Americans that that independence was right4. Sold 500,000 copies

II. Debating IndependenceC. Common Sense

5. Fighting now had new meaning

a. Not for rights, but for independence

Common Sense

Arguments• An island can’t rule a continent• Even if Britain is the “mother

country”, no parent would treat her children like Britain has

• Being part of Britain would involve the colonies in unnecessary European wars

• Distance between Britain and colonies too great

• Britain not interested in American interests but their own

II. Debating IndependenceD. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed independence to Second Continental Congress

Resolved: That these United Colonies are,and of right ought to be, free and independentStates, that they are absolved from all allegianceto the British Crown, and that all politicalconnection between them and the State ofGreat Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

Born: January 20, 1732Served as member of Continental Congress; Signer of Declaration of Independence; PresidentPro Tempore of 2nd Continental Congress

II. Debating IndependenceD. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed independence to Second Continental Congress

1. Voted to put off decision until July 12. Appointed committee to write statement why independence needed

II. Debating IndependenceD. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed independence to Second Continental Congress

3. Thomas Jefferson given the task in the committee

Thomas JeffersonBorn: April 13, 1743, in VirginiaJefferson’s Father died when Thomas was 14 years old.Entered the College of William and Mary as anadvanced student. Graduated at 19

Thomas Jefferson

“During the most closely occupied daysof his college life, it was his habit to studyuntil two o’clock atnight an rise at dawn.”

Thomas JeffersonAfter college he studied the

law under George Wythe. During this time he heard a speech by Patrick Henry thatturned him into a Patriot. Helater said this was the mostimportant day of his life.

Thomas Jefferson

• In 1767 Jefferson was admitted to the bar and became a lawyer.

• He later married Martha Wayles Skelton.

Thomas Jefferson• In July of 1774, Jefferson

wrote A Summary View of The Rights of British Americans. In it he wrote: “Can any one reason be assigned why 160.000 electors in the island of Great Britain should give law to four million in the states of America, every individual of whom is equal to every individual of them in virtue, in understanding, and in bodily strength.”

Thomas JeffersonJefferson initially suggested that John Adams write theDeclaration of IndependenceAdams: “I will not. You should do it.” Jefferson: “Oh no! Why will you not? You ought to do it.”Adams: “I will not”Jefferson: “Why?”Adams: “Reasons enough”Jefferson: “Why can be your reasons.?”Adams: “Reason first – Your are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second – I am obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular. Your are very much otherwise. Reason third – You can write ten times better than I can.”

III. The Declaration of IndependenceA. One of the most politically important documents in history

B. Delegates who signed were committing treason

III. The Declaration of IndependenceC. Provisions of the Declaration

1. First part called preamblea. States basic principles of democracyb. Natural rights given by Godc. “. . . Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

III. The Declaration of IndependenceC. Provisions of the Declaration

1. First part called preambled. People form governments to protect rights

III. The Declaration of IndependenceC. Provisions of the Declaration

2. List of grievancesa. Taxed colonists without their consentb. Destroyed self governmentc. Stopped colonists from moving westd. British troops in colonies during peacetime

III. The Declaration of IndependenceC. Provisions of the Declaration

3. Last part declared independence

a. Colonies had now become the United States of Americab. All political ties with Britain cut

III. The Declaration of IndependenceD. Matching reality to idealsE. Declaration stated “all men are created equal”

1. Ideal, not reality2. What about women, blacks, and Natives?

a. 500,000 slaves in colonies

III. The Declaration of IndependenceE. Matching reality to ideals

4. Debate over slavery nearly derailed Declaration

a. Jefferson had attacked slavery in first Draft

Jefferson’s first draft of Declaration of Independence“He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, of to incur miserable death in their transportation hither. . . . Determined to deep open a market where men should be bought and sold . . .”

III. The Declaration of IndependenceD. Matching reality to ideals

5. Abigail Adams urged husband John to remember the women6. Even though the country could not live up to the words now, it would become the source for future rights

III. The Declaration of IndependenceE. Debating loyalties

1. Colonists were divided over loyalties2. Patriots were people who favored independence

3. Loyalists remained faithful to Britain

III. The Declaration of IndependenceE. Debating loyalties

4. Issue divided families and friends

a. Benjamin Franklin’s son was Loyalist

III. The Declaration of IndependenceE. Debating loyalties

5. About 1/3 Patriots, 1/3 Loyalists, 1/3 neutral6. Loyalists driven from homes, some fled to England