8TH Grade Notes Chapter 6 Section 2

The Colonies Declare Independence
Chapter 6
Section 2
Common Sense
• By 1776 many colonies agreed Parliament did not have the right to make laws for the 13 colonies
• Though most still felt they owed allegiance to the King
• Thomas Paine writes a pamphlet called Common Sense.
• More than 500,000 copies sold
• Paine’s goal
• Change colonists attitude towards the King
• The only reason Britain helped the colonists was for its own profit
• Remaining under British rule ultimately hurt the colonists
Time to part with Britain
• Congress Votes for Independence
– Congressional members read Common Sense and cautiously agreed
• Making the Break
– What they were contemplating could get them hanged as a traitor- a person that betrays their country
– Appointed a committee to draw up a document outlining complaints and declaring their independence
– Thomas Jefferson is named author of it
• Signing the Document
– Late June 1776 first draft is completed
– July 2nd Congress voted that the 13 colonies were “free and independent states”
– Finalized it on July 4th and printed the Declaration of Independence
– John Hancock, Continental Congress president signed first large and boldly
Copies distributed and colonies celebrated
• Declaration of Independence
• 4 parts to the document
– 1) Preamble- introduction
– three main parts
• 2) Natural Rights- rights all people have at birth
– governments role is to protect these rights
– Government can only exist if they have the “consent of the governed”
– If government fails, the people have the right to overthrow the government
3) British wrongs
• Detailed list of wrongdoings of Parliament and the King
• Among the listed were:
• Limits on trade
• Troop build up
• Disbanding of colonial assembly
• Taxation
– Used to justify the rebellion
– Pointed out attempts to right the wrongs
– Boiled down to tyranny by the King
4) Independence
– Announced their intention to be independent of Britain
– All political ties would be cut
– Free and independent nation
– Full power to “levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do”
• Closing Statement
– “And, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
– P.176 3-5


Don't forget to read Section 3 Chapter 6