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Explore the reasons behind America's declaration of independence from England and the violation of the social contract. Discover the grievances listed against King George and Parliament, and the decision to revolt that ignited the American Revolution.
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The Declaration of Independence America’s Declaration of Freedom
America under England’s rule • America had a Social Contract with the English government. • The Social Contract meant that the colonies would remain loyal to England if the government served the purposes that it was created for. What are those purposes? • Many of our founding fathers felt that England had violated their part of the agreement.
Declaring Independence from England • Primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, the colonists sent a declaration of freedom to England for violating the terms of their agreement with the American colony.
And so it begins • The beginning of the Declaration of Independence begins with the Declaration of Natural Rights. • Jefferson felt that the document should start with what is expected of the gov’t and what rights man had.
So what should people expect of the government? • “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. • That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. • This was the Social Contract that the colonists felt that they had with England.
As a matter of fact … • In the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson will list 27 different complaints against King George and Parliament.
Let us decide for ourselves #1 – Was England maintaining a social order in the American colonies? • He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. • In other words, the colonists could not make their own laws. Does this violate the purpose of gov’t to maintain social order?
Let us decide for ourselves! • #2 - Was England providing public services for the American colonists? • He (the king) has refused his Assent to the laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. • In other words, he has not allowed the colonists to provide for their own needs. Does this violate the gov’ts obligation to provide public services?
Decisions continued • #3 - Was England providing for America’s national defense? • He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. • In other words, the colonists could not provide for their own national defense. Does this violate the gov’ts purpose of providing for a national defense?
More complaints • #4 - Finally, was England providing America with economic stability? • For cutting of our Trade with all parts of the world. • In other words, by cutting off trade between the colonies and any other country besides England, was the king allowing for the colonies to provide an economy?
The conclusion • Therefore, since the King has not fulfilled his obligation to America, the colonists have the right to revolt because the government of England did not fulfill their obligations under the Social Contract.
