The Declaration of Independence

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The Declaration of Independence
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• The Declaration of Independence (DOI) was
  influenced by a variety of sources
• English Bill of Rights
• John Locke

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What did the English Bill of Rights
guarantee?How?
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What concepts was Locke known for?
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Class Work

• Partner with one person in the class
• In your own words, translate the following two
  passages

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Passage One

• When in the Course of human events, it becomes
  necessary for one people to dissolve the
  political bands which have connected them with
  another, and to assume among the powers of the
  earth, the separate and equal station to which
  the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle
  them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind
  requires that they should declare the causes
  which impel them to the separation.

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Passage Two

• 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,72 that among these are Life, Liberty
  and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure
  these rights, Governments are instituted among
  Men, deriving their just powers from the consent
  of the governed, That whenever any Form of
  Government becomes destructive of these ends, it
  is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish
  it.

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Parts of the Constitution

• Opening statement
• Declares purpose of the document
• Preamble
• States the principles of the Independence
  Movement
• List of Grievances
• Reasons behind the Movement
• Two remaining sections
• One details the steps taken by the colonies to
  address the grievances
• Also includes Britains response
• Final Statement of Commitment to the DOI

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So What?

• Never before had a colony broken away from the
  parent nation
• First true Declaration of Independence
• Independence wasnt the rule or assumed
• Had NEVER been done

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Declaration Historical Notes

• Declaration was not easy to pass
• Several factions fighting within the Congress
• Required all the colonies to vote unanimously
• Why?

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• Northern Colonies
• Earliest to feel Britains show of force
• Boston, MA
• Southern Colonies
• Wealthy, economy driven by slave labor
• Had to protect interests
• Other colonies were similarly caught between
  their traditional and practical ties to Great
  Britain and their own outrages and interests