Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

A Birth of our Nation

Vocabulary

• Independence: freedom from control

• Equal: the same

• Self-Evident: obvious

Multiple Select

How do you think Thomas Jefferson felt when writing the Declaration of Independence?

• excited

• nervous

• hopeful

• sad

Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self evident;  all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What does that mean?

We believe that all people are equal to each other

and are granted certain rights by their Creator (life,

liberty, and pursuit of happiness) that no

government should take away.

Main points of the Declaration of Independence

• All Men are Created Equal : every human is equal to each other

• People have Natural Rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness (can't be taken away by person or government)

• Government Responsibility: people establish governments to make sure their rights are guaranteed and protected

• Right of the People to institute of new Government: if a government does not protect the citizens they can get rid of it and get a new government

• Listed the Kings abuses: quartering soldiers, cutting off colonist trade, taxation with representation, no trial by jury for colonist