SOL USI.6b
The Revolutionary War
Lisa Pennington
Social Studies Instructional Specialist
Portsmouth Public Schools
Important Words
n 
n 
Unalienable rights: rights that cannot be taken away
Inherent: natural; rights that cannot be taken away.
Essential Understandings
n 
New political ideas
led to a desire for
independence and
democratic
government in the
American colonies.
Essential Understandings
n 
The Declaration of
Independence
proclaimed
independence from
England. It stated
that people have
natural (inherent)
rights to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of
happiness.
Declaration of Independence
n Key
philosophies in the
Declaration of Independence
were based upon ideas first
expressed by European
philosophers
Important People: John Locke
n 
n 
http://csmh.pbwiki.com/f/John%20Locke.jpg
English philosopher who
stated that people have
inherent rights to life,
liberty, and property
and the government
made a contract to
protect the rights of the
people.
Governments have only
the specific powers
people consent to give it.
Key Philosophies in the Declaration of
Independence
n 
People have certain
“unalienable
rights”( rights that
cannot be taken
away) to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of
happiness.
Key Philosophies in the Declaration of
Independence
n 
People establish government to protect those
rights.
Key Philosophies in the Declaration of
Independence
n 
Government derives
power from the
people.
http://bloggingfingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/crowds_of_people.jpg
Key Philosophies in the Declaration of
Independence
n 
People have a right and a duty to change a
government that violates their rights.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/world/asia/20korea.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Think About It…
n  How
do people in the United States
show the government they are not
happy?
n  Why do you think the philosophies in
the Declaration of Independence are
important?