SS Period ______ American Revolution 1-DOI

Name __________________ Date ________________

SS Period ___________ American Revolution 1-DOI

Declaration of Independence Information Sheet

As the American Revolution got underway, the colonists divided into two specific groups. Colonists who did not wish to remain British subjects (citizens) declared themselves "Patriots" -- those who remained faithful to England called themselves "Loyalists."

On June 11, 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee of five men to write a Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and our nation was officially born.

The Declaration of Independence has four parts. They are the Preamble, the Statement of Human Rights (Natural Rights), Charges Against the King and Parliament (List of Grievances), the Statement of Separation (Resolution of Independence), and the Signatures.

The Preamble is the introduction to the Declaration of Independence. It explains why it is sometimes necessary to cut ties with another group. This section provided the explanation of why the colonists needed to separate from England.

The Natural Rights section of the Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal and are entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." It lists the rights of the citizens and goes on to explain that, in a republic, people form a government to protect their (unalienable) rights.

One of the most significant pieces of the Declaration of Independence is the “Charges Against the King and Parliament.” It is a list of complaints (grievances) that the colonists had against the King. In simple words, some of those complaints are:

• He won't let us pass laws we need for everybody's good.

• Even when we do pass laws, he won't sign them so they can go into effect.

• He tried to force men to give up their right to make laws.

• He calls men together to make laws in the most inconvenient times and places, so that they won't be able to go discuss the new laws.

• He won't let new settlers come to America, and he won't let the settlers take over new land from the Native Americans.

• He won't let us choose our own judges, and instead he chooses them all himself, so they're all on his side.

• He sends many new government officials that we don't want, and he makes us pay for them.

• He sends lots of English soldiers here when there isn't even a war, and orders them to live in our own houses.

• He tells us these soldiers can do whatever they want and don't have to obey the law.

• He won't let us buy and sell things from wherever we want. We can only buy things from England.

• He makes us pay all kinds of taxes without asking for our opinions.

• He won't let us have a jury for our trials, only a judge.

• He sends people accused of crimes far away to England for their trials.

• He tries to get people to revolt and tries to get the "Indian Savages" to attack us.

In the section called the Resolution of Independence, colonies were declared as “Free and Independent States” with the full power to make war, to form alliances, and to trade with other countries. This section stressed all political connections with England were cut. The colonists declared themselves as free and members of independent states, pledging their lives, fortunes, and honor in support of the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence was signed by gentlemen from each of the 13 colonies. There were 56 men in total that signed the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence Study Sheet

1. What were the two groups that lived in the colonies at the start of the Revolution? What made them different from each other?

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2. On June 11, 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee of five men to write a Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Who was responsible for writing the first draft and when was the draft completed?

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3. The Declaration of Independence has four parts: They are the

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4. What was the main focus of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence?

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Please turn the page over.

5. The Natural Rights section of the Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal and are entitled to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." What does this section discuss?

6. One of the most significant pieces of the Declaration of Independence is the “Charges Against the King and Parliament.” Explain what it is and list four examples of charges that were made; try to write it in your own words to keep the charges shorter and simpler.

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7. The Resolution of Independence section declared the colonies as “Free and Independent States.” What were the three powers that Jefferson stated the new states had the right to do?