The Ideological and Diplomatic Aspects of the American Revolution

1. Standard 4 Analyze the ideological, military, social, diplomatic aspects of the American Revolution a. Investigate the intellectual sources, organization, and argument of the Declaration of Independence including the role of Thomas Jefferson and the Committee of Five.

2. Declaration of Independence The document’s ideas can be traced to several philosophies: • John Locke -believed people were born with certain natural rights (life, liberty and property) -that the people and the government have a “contract” -people had the right to overthrow a government if it did not uphold its end of the contract

3. Declaration of Independence • Originally written by Thomas Jefferson in June 1776, he borrowed the ideas of Locke and Montesquieu. • The document was edited several times prior to it’s presentation to the Congress. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams editing Thomas Jefferson’s original writing of the Declaration of Independence

4. Made up of 5 parts • The Preamble which explains the purpose of the document • Declaration of Natural Rights which is taken almost directly from Locke (Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness) • List of Grievances which list the colonists’ complaints against Britain • Resolution of Independence which declares that the colonies are free from Britain • Signersdeclared that they, as representatives of the colonies approved the document Declaration of Independence

5. The signing of the Declaration of Independence signaled the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. Declaration of Independence

6. The Committee of Five of the Second Continental Congress was a team of five men who drafted and presented to the Congress what would become America's Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776. • Who do you think was involved? • Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston COMMITTEE of FIVE

7. b. Explain the reason for and significance of the French alliance and other foreign assistance including the diplomacy of Benjamin Franklin and John Adams

8. The French, old enemies of Britain, began to secretly send supplies to the Americans. • Benjamin Franklin is sent to France in 1776 to try and persuade the French to enter the war. He stayed in France until 1785. • The Americans wanted France to send troops as well, but France wanted an impressive American victory before declaring war on Britain. France enters the war. WHY?

9. France enters the war • The early war effort goes poorly for the Americans as they lose several key battles. • In 1777, George Washington and the Continental Army take up winter quarters at Valley Forge (PA). • Nearly 2,500 troops die from exposure to the cold and food shortages. • The Marquis de Lafayette from France, helped to hold the remaining troops together through training and discipline.

10. France enters the war • In October 1777, the Americans defeated the British at Saratoga, NY. This American victory was a turning point in the war because it boosted American moral and brought France into the war against Britain.