Unit 16
The Declaration of Independence - July 4th, 1776
Reading
You will need to read the Declaration of Independence https://nccs.net/blogs/americas-founding-documents/the-declaration-of-independence
Lecture outline
Homework
You will need to read the Declaration of Independence https://nccs.net/blogs/americas-founding-documents/the-declaration-of-independence
Lecture outline
- The Declaration of Independence was the document which announced and justified the separation of the 13 Colonies from Great Britain. The Colonies had already been at war with the Kingdom of Great Britain for more than a year.
- The Declaration listed 27 grievances against King George III, asserting natural and legal rights including the right of armed revolution.
- The 2nd sentence was made famous by President Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address (1863): "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."
- The rough draft of the Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson in about 17 days. Over the next few days, Congress made modifications to it, and shortened it by about 1/4th.
- It was completed on July 2nd, and ratified on July 4th, 1776.
Homework