UNIT: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Independence and Revolution: The Government WEEK 23
AMERICAN FOUNDATIONS
from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it. Part 3: Then, the Declaration shows how the British government has not done its job protecting these rights for the colonists. This is the reason the colonists needed a new government. There are 27 grievances listed as evidence against King George III. Here are just six of them: 1. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. 2. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. 3. For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: 4. For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: 5. For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: 6. For suspending our own Legislatures, and
declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. Part 4: The conclusion explains what must be done about these grievances. That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved ... The delegates signed and sent the document to the king. They had stated their concerns, given their evidence and reasoning, and proposed their solution. Now they remained firm in their commitment to seeing through what they proposed. Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Those signatures gave the king, Parliament, and the British military evidence of treason against the British government. Treason was punishable by death. These men put their honor and their lives on the line to support what they believed in.
On June 7, 1776, delegate Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution to the Second Continental Congress, which stated, “That these United Colonies are, and, of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States.” The delegates all took a vote on the resolution. The passing vote was counted on July 2, 1776. On July 4, 1776, The United Colonies adopted the document written by Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence would be sent to King George III. The Declaration of Independence contains the core values of America in its words. Part 1: The Introduction, or preamble, says that all men are created equal. It states that everyone has rights that are unalienable, meaning they can’t be taken away. These rights are “life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 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. Part 2: The next section talks about the purpose of government. The Declaration states that governments are created to protect the unalienable rights. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers
Thomas Jefferson
Signers The signers of the Declaration of Independence were united in their desire for independence. However, they had different strengths and experience. John Hancock signed first and has the largest signature. Hancock was very active in the Sons of Liberty. He escaped capture by the British Regulars at Concord and Lexington. In Philadelphia, the other delegates of Congress voted for him as president. Roger Sherman was on the Committee of Five to write the Declaration. Another member of the committee, John Adams, described him as “one of the most sensible men in the world,” possessing the “clearest head and
steadiest heart.” Adams also said of Sherman’s public speaking, “it is stiffness and awkwardness itself, rigid as starched linen.” Sherman was never in the spotlight or center of the action, but he labored tirelessly on the work of Congress and the war. Benjamin Franklin was also a member of the Committee of Five. He was a steady influence in Congress since he had experience as a representative of Pennsylvania in the court of King George. Franklin urged the colonies to work together. At last, he helped them unite by signing the Declaration of Independence.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What were the goals of the Declaration of Independence? What were the goals of the revolutionary government?
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