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DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. *Revolution started at Lexington and Concord *2 nd Continental Congress meets *Philadelphia, Pennsylvania *May, 1775. 2 nd Continental Congress government of the colonies during the war accomplishments: elected John Hancock as President
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DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
*Revolution started at Lexington and Concord *2nd Continental Congress meets *Philadelphia, Pennsylvania *May, 1775
2nd Continental Congress • government of the colonies during the war accomplishments: • elected John Hancock as President • authorized printing of money • created Continental Army-George Washington as commander • write and adopt Declaration of Independence
1776 • many colonists opposed to complete break • Thomas Paine writes Common Sense to encourage support of independence • Congress appoints committee to draft Declaration
June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee declares “These colonies are, and of right, ought to be free and Independent!” he was encouraged to do this by John Adams
Declaration committee: • John Adams • Benjamin Franklin • Thomas Jefferson • Robert Livingston • Roger Sherman Thomas Jefferson would actually write the Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776 Declaration is adopted by Congress John Hancock, as President, is first to sign
Declaration includes: • a list of complaints against George III • an outline of a new theory of govt. • a declaration of war
1ST section of Declaration preamble, or introduction states why people should form a new government
2nd section of Declaration • lists rights people have and describes government • “certain truths are self-evident” • *all men created equal • *all men have unalienable rights • >life • >liberty • >pursuit of happiness
2. “governments are instituted among men and derive their power from the governed” people start governments and give power to governments; government exits to benefit people if government does not protect the people, people have a right abolish the government The Declaration created a Republic form of government-one in which people choose representatives to make laws
3rd section of the Declaration lists complaints the colonists had with Parliament and George III Major complaints: *taxation without representation *England interfere with colonial trade *George III unlimited power *George III dissolved colonial governments *Parliament deprived colonists of trial by jury *George III kept standing army in colonies-peacetime
4th section of Declaration *declares war on England *declares America independent of England *lists power of American government >levy war-make war >conclude peace-make peace >contract alliances-make allies >establish commerce-trade
56 men signed the Declaration They pledged “their lives, fortunes and sacred honor” Many of the signers lost everything they had: 5 captured as traitors 12 homes were burned 2 lost sons in war 1 son was captured 9 died of wounds or hardships