The Declaration of Independence

1
The Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Jefferson would write one of the most
  powerful documents in American History,
  explaining why we wanted to break away from
  Britain and how our government would be formed.

2
The Preamble

• When in the course of Human events it becomes
  necessary
• This is the Introduction of the Declaration of
  Independence and states the purpose of the
  document
• To dissolve the political bands which have
  connected them to another
• Announces that they intend to break away,
  politically, from Britain
• They should declare the causes that impel them to
  the separations
• Explains the reasons why they will separate

3
The Right of People to Control their Government

• All men are created equal with Unalienable
  rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of
  Happiness
• Borrowing from John Locke, Jefferson believed
  every white male had the above rights and if the
  government didnt protect them we could abolish
  the government
• Under absolute despotism, it is their right,
  it is their duty, to throw off their government
• Britain was ruling the colonies with Tyranny and
  the Declaration called for the government to be
  overthrown
• To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid
  world
• Transitions the document into an explanation of
  what the king did to anger the colonies

4
Tyrannical Acts of the British King

• Listed 27 grievances the colonies had against the
  King
• The First five problems were with limitations
  against lawmaking by the colonial governments
• The Next four problems addressed limited
  representation in the colonies and land
  restrictions
• The next six discussed British obstruction of
  Justice and British military presence in the
  colonies

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MORE acts of Tyranny

• Listed 27 grievances the colonies had against the
  King
• The next four limited trade, imposed new taxes,
  and restricted the right of a trial by jury
• The next three opposed the restrictions the king
  made on a free colonial government
• The Last Five dealt with the acts of war the king
  ordered against the colony that they founded

6
Efforts of the Colonies to Avoid Separation

• In Every stage of these oppressions we have
  petitioned for redress and have been answered
  in repeated injury
• While the colonies worked for a peaceful
  independence, Britain used violence to put the
  independence down
• They have been deaf to the voice of justice and
  consanguinity and we must hold them, as we
  hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in
  Peace friends.
• The British put aside the fact that we had common
  ancestors and continued to fight us. They were
  now viewed as enemies in war, but it stated they
  were open to a peaceful friendship

7
The Colonies are declared Free and Independent

• that these United Colonies are, and right
  ought to be, Free and Independent States
• This was the ACTUAL declaration of freedom from
  Great Britain
• That all political connection between them
  and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to
  be, totally dissolved
• This Statement announced the TOTAL separation
  from Great Britain and gave them the right to
  wage war against Britain
• We Mutually pledge to each other our lives, our
  fortunes, our sacred honor
• The people that signed the Declaration gave their
  total support for independence, knowing the
  deadly consequences of their actions

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This has been another World Famous Mr. Green
PowerPoint Presentation

• We the People of the United States.oops Wrong
  Document!!