Ch:6 The American Revolution 6:1 A Nation Declares Independence
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Standards
8.23 Determine the central ideas expressed in the Declaration of
Independence and write an expository piece in which the legacy of
these ideas in today’s world is described and validated with
supporting evidence from the text.
•  8.24 Using Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and The Crisis
identify aspects of the texts that reveal the author’s point of
view and purpose including loaded language.
•  8.25 Identify and explain the significance of the major battles,
leaders, and events of the American Revolution
•  8.27 Compare the points of views of the Loyalists and Patriots
by integrating visual information through charts, graphs, or
images with print texts. Objectives
•  Find out how Thomas Paine stirred support for
independence.
•  Understand the meaning and structure of the Declaration
of Independence.
•  Learn how Congress finally agreed to separate from
England.
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Terms and People
•  Thomas Paine – American colonist and author
of Common Sense
• 
•  Richard Henry Lee – delegate who introduced
a resolution calling for independence to the
Second Continental Congress
•  resolution – formal statement of opinion •  preamble – introduction
•  grievance – formal complaint
Why did many colonists favor declaring
independence?
By 1776, tension filled the colonies. The king had
declared the colonists to be in open rebellion. Battles
had been fought, and soldiers had died. Still, the path ahead was not clear. Though blood had
been shed, many colonists still hoped for peace. 3
As 1776 began, most colonists were neither Patriots nor
Loyalists. They were in the middle, torn about what to do.
Patriots
Undecided
Loyalists
That soon began to change. In January 1776, a colonist
named Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet that received wide
attention. 4
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense led many colonists
to support independence.
Common Sense: 47-page pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, published
in January 1776.
Urged separation from Great Britain. Argued that citizens, not monarchs, should make laws (bold idea –
who ruled much of the world?). Written by a “common person” for
common people.
Argued for economic freedom and the right to military self-defense. Cried out against tyranny, the abuse of government power.
Reached a wide audience, selling some 500,000 copies.
In Common Sense, Paine made powerful arguments in
favor of independence.
George III
is a
“royal
brute.”
Kings
should not
rule over
people.
Americans
should govern
themselves.
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Common Sense became a bestseller, and public
opinion began to shift. Number of
colonists
favoring
independence
More colonists began to
favor independence. So,
too, did their
representatives in the
Second Continental
Congress.
PollEv.com/jillbailey292
What publication caused many people to
consider themselves Patriots?
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In May, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced
a resolution declaring that the colonies should be free and
independent states.
Congress formed a committee to write a statement
explaining the reasons for independence.
The statement would be presented to Congress, then the
question of independence would be put to a vote.
Benjamin Franklin,
John Adams, and
Thomas Jefferson were
appointed to the
committee. Jefferson wrote most of
the document, which
would become the
Declaration of
Independence.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/declaration-of-independence/videos
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The hDeclaration of Independence begins as four parts,
beginning with a preamble.
Preamble
Declaration of
Natural Rights
List of Grievances
Resolution
of Independence
The preamble states the
reason for writing the
document—to explain why
the colonists were
breaking ties with Britain.
To begin the explanation, Jefferson declared that everyone
has unalienable rights. Preamble
Declaration of
Natural Rights
Governments are created
to protect those rights. List of Grievances
Resolution
of Independence
If a government violates
those rights, the people
must change their
government. 8
The British government, Jefferson argued, had violated the
colonists’ rights. Preamble
Declaration of
Natural Rights
List of Grievances
Resolution
of Independence
To prove this, he presented
a long list of grievances,
including that the colonists
were:
• denied trial by jury
• taxed without their
consent
Therefore, Jefferson concluded, the colonies are free and
independent states. Preamble
Declaration of
Natural Rights
List of Grievances
Resolution
of Independence
All ties between the
colonies and the
British government
are now dissolved.
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PollEv.com/jillbailey292
The Declaration of Independence was approved by Congress
on July 4, 1776. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvjLMyii9Y8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETroXvRFoKY&list=PLFB610E7DAA21CC5D&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX-APfe3i8Q
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Americans still celebrate July
4th as Independence Day. Today, the Declaration
of Independence
remains a source of
inspiration for
Americans and for
people around the
world.
For Americans in 1776, however, declaring independence
was a serious and frightening step. The colonists were challenging one of the most powerful
nations in the world—and risking their lives.
The way ahead was dangerous, but there was no
turning back. Americans were now fighting to create
their own nation.
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Section Review
QuickTake Quiz
Know It, Show It Quiz
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