Purpose of the Declaration of Independence: Creating a Unique Nation

1. Chapter 2: Origins of American GovernmentSection 3-5

2. Declaration of Independence What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? The Declaration severed ties with Great Britain and created a unique nation No political system had ever been formed on the principles of equality, human rights, and representative government that derived its authority from the will of the people.

3. Basic Principles of the Declaration of Independence • Natural Rights – Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness • Popular Sovereignty – People are the source of political authority • Order – Importance of stability - Overthrowing a government is only a last resort

4. Declaration of Independence Functions • We needed to prove our case to other nations why we had the right to break away from Britain. We did this by… World Jury…Here are our reasons for leaving Britain • Inform European nations why we are fighting • List of charges against King of England • Provide common statement of beliefs and ideals held by colonists

5. Basic Natural Rights • All People have the rights of Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness • Government gets is power from the people • Government cannot take away these rights. • If a government does violate those rights, the people can form a new one.

6. List of Wrongs by Britain • 27 complaints listed to prove that… • King George had chosen to rule as a tyrant rather than for the people. • Colonists had no representation in the British government • Colonists forced to house soldiers • Colonists taxed without having a say

7. All Men Are Created Equal? Did the words, “All Men are Created Equal” apply to all those who lived in the colonies? NO! Thanks for all the rights Pale Face Why aren’t we included?

9. Articles of Confederation • The Second Continental Congress had to create an official national government. • So they created the Articles of Confederation in 1777, but they were not ratified until 1781 because they needed all13 states to ratify. • The Articles created a single unit of government, the Congress. • Congress was unicameral (one house) in structure, with each states electing its delegates each year. • Each state delegation had one vote in Congress.

10. Articles of Confederation

11. Weakness of the Articles

12. Problems with the Articles • After the Revolutionary War, states stopped cooperating with each other and the national government.Why the Articles of Confederation Failed (3 min) • They refused to supply troops or money. • Some made their own treaties with other nations. • Most raised their own military forces. • They taxed goods from other states and banned trade with some states. • They printed their own money.

13. Problem with the Articles, cont. • Economies of many states struggled as a result of all the bickering and poor planning. • Much of the newly printed money was worth very little. Prices soared and loans became hard to get. • Many people fell into debt. • The economic crisis led to Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts. • Indebted farmers and other small property owners lost land and possessions when they could not pay their debts or their state taxes.

14. Constitutional Convention We need a stronger national government!!! • The Philadelphia meeting, held in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, • Turned into the Constitutional Convention. • Instead of revising the Articles, it would replace them with something new – The Constitution