Independence Day

Independence Day

Towards Independence • January, 1776 • Washington and Knox struggle to organize the new Continental Army… • …a 39 year old writer named Thomas Paine sets fire to the American imagination with a booklet called Common Sense

Common Sense • Paine’s Common Sense argued: • It made no sense for an island to rule a continent • America is not a “British Nation” but composed of people from all over • Britain’s treatment of the colonies was so poor that independence was necessary

The Great Debate • A national debate began, with sides arguing passionately for and against independence • Even Congress was divided

The Committee • John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson agreed to write a “statement on independency” • Everyone wanted Adams to write it… • Adams however had a special talent…

John Adams • John Adams was very good at recognizing the talents in others: • It was Adams who nominated George Washington to serve as commander-in-chief • Adams had the wisdom to marry a woman, Abigail, who he realized was his intellectual equal (and in many ways smarter than he was) • Recognized that Thomas Jefferson was a better writer and should draft the statement

Unalienable Rights • UNALIENABLE RIGHTS: these are rights so fundamental and basic that they cannot be taken away from you • In the new United States your unalienable rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

The Consent of the Governed • THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED: the idea that government gets its power from the PERMISSION OF THE PEOPLE • The people have the right to take this permission away!!! • That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it

The Right of Revolution • Governments, long established, should not be changed for light and transient causes… • But when a long train of abuses…evinces a design to reduce you under absolute Despotism, it is your right…it is your duty, to throw off such Government

Holy Smokes!!! • Jefferson states: if your government is being tyrannical, or abusive, you have the right to rebel and overthrow that government • The rest of the Declaration of Independence is a list of reasons why the colonies are rebelling against Great Britain

Independence Day • The Declaration of Independence is finished and approved on July 2, 1776 • Two more days pass before it is signed and announced to the world • The United States of America is formed July 4, 1776

Declaration of Independence • There is one small (well huge problem) with the Declaration of Independence • “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”: • Close to 20% of the American population are slaves • Do the words of the Declaration apply to them as well?

Day of Judgment • Virtually all of the Founding Fathers owned slaves: • Jefferson himself owned 100 • Washington owned 200 • Jefferson wrote a provision in the Declaration of Independence calling for the abolition of slavery • The Founders compromised: to get southern colonies to vote for independence, they took the provision out

Trouble Ahead • Adams is one of the few founding fathers who actively campaigned against slavery • Refused to compromise • Warned the Continental Congress that this issue would come back to tear the Union apart • “History will not judge us kindly.” –John Adams

Hang Together or Hang Separately • The Declaration of Independence was an act of treason against the British Crown • Many people did not even consider themselves “American,” rather, they considered themselves to be British • All fifty-five signers of the Declaration would be hanged for treason if any of them were caught • Their only hope now: win the war at all costs

Independence Day