Declaration of Independence

1
Declaration of Independence

• Kristen Hoskins

2
Introduction

• What is your definition of independence?
• Websters dictionary defines the word
  independence as 1. The quality or condition of
  being independent,esp. Freedom from dependence
  upon or control by others.

3
Introduction

• Do you agree with his definition?

4
Topics of Discussion

• What events led to the declaration of
  independence?
• The committee of five
• Chronology of events from June 7, 1776 to January
  18, 1777.
• A look at the declaration

5
Topics of Discussion

• Letter by Thomas Jefferson
• Conclusion

6
What events led to the Declaration of
Independence?

• The British North American colonies that joined
  together in the American Revolution became the
  original states of the U.S., are referred to as
  the Thirteen Colonies.

7
What events led to the Declaration of
Independence?

• The thirteen colonies were
• Massachusetts
• Rhode island
• Connecticut
• New York
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Delaware
• Maryland
• Virginia
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• New Hampshire

8
Map of the Thirteen Colonies
9
Thirteen Colonies 1775-1783

• The Thirteen Colonies that were to become the
  United States wanted independence from Britain.
• The Britain favored a policy called mercantilism,
  which tried to regulate colonial commerce in the
  British interest.
• The Stamp Act passed by Parliament in 1765 roused
  a violent colonial opposition.
• It was repealed in 1766

10
Events that Led to the Declaration

• The Townsend Acts of 1767, led to acts of
  violence which included the Boston Massacre of
  1770, and the Boston Tea Party (1773). Britain
  responded with the Intolerable Acts.
• Colonists outraged by all of these events
  convened at the Continental Congress.
• In June 1775, Congress established the
  Continental Army and continental currency and
  later a post office for the United Colonies.

11
Events that Led to the Declaration

• The Colonies during this time were treated as a
  foreign entity.
• One by one, the Continental Congress continued to
  cut the colonies ties to Britain.
• The colonies are moving toward independence at
  this time.

12
The Committee of Five

• The committee consisted of two New England Men,
  John Adams of Massachusetts and Roger Sherman of
  Connecticut two men from the Middle Colonies,
  Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R.
  Livingston of New York and one southerner,
  Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.
• These are the men who are responsible for the
  Declaration of Independence.

13
Chronology Of Events

• June 7, 1776 to January 18, 1777
• 1776

14
Chronology Of Events

• June 7- Congress, meeting in Philadelphia,
  receives Richard Henry Lees resolution urging
  Congress to declare independence.

15
Chronology Of Events

• June 11- Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin
  Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston
  appointed to a committee to draft a declaration
  of independence. American army retreats to Lake
  Champlain from Canada.
• June 12-27- Jefferson, at the request of the
  committee, drafts a declaration, of which only a
  fragment exists. Jeffersons clean, or fair
  copy, the original Rough draught, is reviewed
  by the committee. Both documents are in the
  manuscript collections of the Library of Congress.

16
Chronology Of Events

• June 28- A fair copy of the committee draft of
  the Declaration of Independence is read in
  Congress.
• July 1-4- Congress debates and revises the
  Declaration of Independence.

17
Chronology Of Events

• July 2-Congress declares independence as the
  British fleet and army arrive at New York.
• July 4- Congress adopts the Declaration of
  Independence in the morning of a bright, sunny,
  but cool Philadelphia day. John Dunlap prints
  the Declaration of Independence. These prints
  are now called Dunlap Broadsides.
• July 5- John Hancock, president of the
  Continental Congress, dispatches the first of
  Dunlaps broadsides of the Declaration of
  Independence to the legislatures of New Jersey
  and Delaware.

18
Chronology Of Events

• July 6- Pennsylvania Evening Post of July 6
  prints the first newspaper rendition of the
  Declaration of Independence.
• July 8- The first public reading of the
  Declaration is in Philadelphia.
• July 9- Washington orders that the Declaration of
  Independence be read before the American army in
  New York.
• July 19-Congress orders the Declaration of
  Independence engrossed and signed by members.

19
Chronology Of Events

• August 2- Delegates begin to sign engrossed copy
  of Declaration.
• 1777
• January 18- Congress, now sitting in Baltimore,
  Maryland, orders that signed copies of the
  Declaration of Independence printed by Mary
  Katherine Goddard of Baltimore be sent to the
  states.

20
Betsys Flag