U.S. History

Chapter 7: The American RevolutionSection 2: Declaring Independence

Common Sense

•Thomas Paine: author of Common Sense

•38 yrs old

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

• 47 pages, 500K copies

• Argued for breaking away from Britain

• Plain languageCover of Common Sense

Common Sense

“I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain

arguments, and common sense . . ."

Common Sense“I have heard it asserted that as

America hath flourished under her former connection with Great Britain,

the same connection is necessary towards her future happiness, and will always have the same effect.

Nothing can be more fallacious than this kind of argument…”

Common Sense

“But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their

families…”

Common Sense

“Nothing but independence…can keep the peace of the continent…A government of our

own is our natural right: and when a man seriously reflects on the precariousness of

human affairs, he will become convinced that it is infinitely wiser and safer, to form a

constitution of our own in a cool deliberate manner, while we have it in our power…”

Declaring Independence

• Lee Resolution: “These United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States…”

• Proposed June 7, 1776

Richard Henry Lee

Declaring Independence

June 10, 1776: Congress appoints a committee to draft a statement of

independence

Thomas JeffersonVirginia

Roger ShermanConnecticut

Benjamin Franklin

Pennsylvania

Robert Livingston

New York

John AdamsMassachusetts

Declaring Independence

•John Adams to Thomas Jefferson:

–You are a Virginian

–You are a better writer

– I am obnoxious!

Declaring Independence

•July 2, 1776: Lee Resolution adopted

Lee Resolution

Declaring Independence“The 2nd day of July 1776 will be the most memorable in the epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival…with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”

--John Adams, in a letter to Abigail Adams

Declaring Independence

•July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted

Declaration of Independence

Declaring Independence

•August 2, 1776: Declaration signed

Declaration of Independence

Declaring Independence

•The Document:

–Unalienable rights

–Listed rights violated by George II

–Asserted right to break away

Choosing Sides

•Patriots—colonists who chose to fight for independence

•Loyalists—colonists who sided with Great Britain in the fight for Independence

Choosing Sides

• 100,000 Loyalists fled America

• William Franklin

• Thomas FairfaxWilliam Franklin

Other Reactions to the Declaration

“…all men are created equal…”

Other Reactions to the Declaration

•Not included in the Declaration:

–Rights of women

–Rights of African Americans

Other Reactions to the Declaration

•Abigail Adams: wrote an appeal to include the rights of women in the Declaration

Abigail Adams

Other Reactions to the Declaration

• Jefferson included a passage attacking slave trade

• Removed

• Slavery/liberty coexist?

Thomas Jefferson