Transcript Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence
• What was the
Declaration of
Independence?
• The announcement that the
Americans would be
separate from Great Britain
• Legal argument written by
Thomas Jefferson
• Defined the United States
and what government and
society should be
Why?
• Why did the
Declaration of
Independence come
about?
• Broken promises,
disrespect, violating
rights, money, and
taxation without
representation
• War spread and grew
more violent
• Thomas Paine wrote
Common Sense and
many people read it:
– It convinced many to
get independence
Goals (Parts)
• What were the
goals of the
Declaration of
Independence?
1. Ideas about rights and
government: what it
should be
2. Why they wanted
independence: what
the king had done
wrong
3. Creation of the
independent United
States of America
Importance?
• Why was the
Declaration of
Independence
important?
• (How did it help the
Americans win?)
• It made other countries
(France) more likely to help
America
• Gave soldiers something to
fight for (motivation)
• Explained what our
government should be like
• Foundation of our beliefs
about government and
society!
* Led many Northern states
to outlaw slavery!