Declaring Independence

1
Declaring Independence

• Chapter 8 Lesson 5
• Pages 324-331

2
Moving Toward Independence

• Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense
• Ideas were expressed of colonists should rule
  themselves.

3
Congress Debates Independence

• Independence the freedom to govern themselves
• John Adams argues for independence at the 2nd
  Continental Congress
• June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee declares
  independence from Britain
• Resolution a formal group statement of
  independence

4
A Declaration is Written

• Declaration an official statement
• Thomas Jefferson VA Lawyer Wrote the
  Declaration of Independence

5
Declaration of Independence

• Preamble the first part, the introduction
• Explained why the colonists had the right to
  break away

6
Rights and Grievances

• All people have rights that government cant take
  away
• All people had the right to
• Live
• Be free
• Seek their own happiness
• The longest part of the declaration is lists the
  grievances (complaints) against the king.

7
Congress Approves the Declaration

• July 4, 1776 Congress voted to accept the
  Declaration of Independence
• Public reading at Independence Hall
• John Adams writes that we should celebrate
  independence for future generations

8
A Dangerous Decision

• John Hancock president of the Congress
• Signs it large so King can read it without his
  glasses
• John Hancock Signature
• If they lost the war, the signers would be tried
  for treason
• Punishment death

9
Forming a New Government

• Articles of Confederation the 1st form of
  government
• Committee was head by John Dickinson

10
Articles of Confederation

• Approved 1777
• Each 1 vote 1 representative in a national
  Confederation Congress
• Made laws for the new nation until 1789

11
Weaknesses of the Articles

• Power is left with the states
• To pass National law 9 of 13 states agree
• If passed, Congress had no power to enforce
• Congress could make treaties, declare war,
  borrow
• Could Not collect taxes or control trade
• Defense was by states