Mr. Scalera – 7th Grade Social Studies (Chapter 6, Section 4 – Declaration of Independence)
Ideas behind the Declaration of Independence
Renaissance – Man, with education & effort, could accomplish anything
(education + perseverance + determination)
Magna Carta (1215)
 Protected rights of nobles and was written constitution/contract
The Mayflower Compact (1620)
 Men could agree to govern themselves
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639)
 Representative government
 1st written constitution
English Bill of Rights (1689)
 Laws of Parliament SUPREME & protected individual rights of citizens
The Great Awakening – God created all men equally
 Allegiance to God – power of state NOT absolute
 Individual conscience, man answers to God for what does/doesn’t do
 Freedom of choice
The Enlightenment – (1600-1700)
JOHN LOCKE – philosophy that government is a social contract

Between government/ political leaders and the people they govern lasts only as
long as it protects natural (fundamental) rights of life, religious liberty and equality
before the law.
Source - http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/declare-causes-declaration-independence#section-20054
Mr. Scalera – 7th Grade Social Studies (Chapter 6, Section 4 – Declaration of Independence)
Declaration of Independence – written by Thomas Jefferson – 3 major parts
Introduction: When a nation feels compelled to separate and assume a position
among the other sovereign nations as an equal, to keep a good reputation, this nation
should explain why it feels justified in taking such action:
List of complaints against
Declaration of
the King
independent nationhood
“all men created equal”
Deprived citizens their
Appeal to “supreme Judge
rights to trial by jury
of the world regarding
intentions
“endowed by their creator”
Imposed taxes on citizens
That the UNITED colonies
without their consent
are free and independent
nation
“LIFE, LIBERTY & the
Dissolved colonial charters Absolved of all allegiance to
PERSUIT OF HAPPINESS
the British Crown
Governments are supposed Dissolved or suspended
Dissolve all ties with
to secure this rights for its
duly elected local
England
citizens
government
Power of government
Placed military power
As a free and independent
comes from the consent of
OVER the power of duly
nation – can declare war,
those governed (the
elected local officials (civil
establish trade with others
people)
power)
Citizens have right and
And over twenty-four other
Countries and do all other
DUTY to change or get rid
offenses – including murder acts that independent
of a government that no
- against the British Citizens nations do
longer keeps them safe and living in the American
Under the protection of God
allows them to prosper
Colonies.
pledge their lives, fortunes
and sacred honor support
this
Such change should not be Has refused to right these
Declaration and establish
undertaken for “light or
wrongs even after being
the new nation of the
transient” reasons
formally requested to do so. UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA
Review of Rights
Source - http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/declare-causes-declaration-independence#section-20054