Declaration of Independence

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Declaration of Independence

• Honors US History
• Mr. Gritman

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Painting of the Time
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History

• One year into the fighting the Continental
  Congress gathers to formally declare a split with
  Great Britain.
• Primary, or main, author is Thomas Jefferson.
• Adopted or ratified July 4th, 1776

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Writing Committee

• A committee was formed to write the actual
  document.
• Thomas Jefferson
• John Adams
• Benjamin Franklin
• Robert Livingston
• Roger Sherman

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What was the D.O.I?

• The Declaration justified the independence of the
  United States by listing colonial grievances
  against King George III.
• Asserted a natural right of revolution.
• Its importance grew over the years, particularly
  the second sentence, a sweeping statement of
  individual human rights.

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Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

• 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.

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How equal were we?

• Slavery was a common practice in the Colonies.
• Women had little to no rights. (Rule of thumb.)
  Ownership issues.
• Those who had little money had little input.
• Non-Christians were not protected by law.

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How equal are we now?

• Is everyone suppose to be treated equal now? How
  can we tell?
• Is everyone treated equal now?
• How can we tell?