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Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence Legislature – law-making

group Declare – to strongly state

something Declaration – a forceful,

strong statement Independence – to have

freedom to make your own choices and have control over what happens to you

Preamble – introduction – usually for an official document; often gives reasons for document being written

Declaration of Independence – Document that made our break with England official

Natural Rights – rights that belong to all people from birth

COMMON SENSE Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine Urged colonists to declare independence Listed reasons why it was only “common

sense” to be our own country Paine said the idea of kings and queens was

wrong & that the colonies didn’t owe their loyalty to England

Convinced many colonists to side with Patriots

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Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence Treason –

betraying one’s country

Traitor – Someone who betrays his or her country

Capital crime – a crime for which the penalty is death

CONGRESS VOTES FOR INDEPENDENCE June 1776, Continental Congress decides to

vote for independence from England A difficult decision – all would be called traitors

by England; they would be committing treason, a capital crime

Appointed a committee to tell the world why they were declaring independence

Committee chose Thomas Jefferson to write it DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Signed July 4, 1776, Independence Hall,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania All 13 colonies had delegates sign it John Hancock was president of Continental

Congress – signed largely and boldly Was distributed throughout the colonies

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Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Made up of preamble and three main parts Natural Rights – First main part of the

document States that certain rights are ours from birth

and that if the government violates them, it’s the right and duty of the people to over-throw the government

British Wrongs - Second part of document Condemns king for putting soldiers in colonies

during peacetime and for breaking up the colonial legislatures (law-making groups)

Lists many of the British “wrongs” and says colonists had the right to rebel

Also said that king had a chance to fix the mistakes but chose not to do so

Independence – Third and final part of document

States that we break all ties with England Calls colonies the United States of America Declares full independence as a country

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Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence

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Chapter 6-2 Colonies Declare Independence