The Declaration of Independence, elaborating upon the following topics relevant and related topics:
-Purpose
-Committee that drafted the document
-Structure of the document
-Jefferson's influences
-Themes of the document
-Free State Theory
-Misconceptions
2. Committee of Five
Committee headed by John Adams,
other members include Robert
Livingston, Roger Sherman,
Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas
Jefferson
Written in two weeks by Jefferson
in Philadelphia
Reasons for Jefferson’s authorship:
He was Virginian
He was popular unlike John Adams
He had a great skill for writing
3. Structure
First Paragraph – Preamble
Second Paragraph – Philosophical
Section
Third Paragraph – Charges
against George III
Fourth Paragraph – Explanation
on how separation transpired
Fifth Paragraph – Announced
State Sovereignty
4. Purpose
Great Britain
A declaration of secession from
Listed the causes that “impel them to the separation” and “dissolve
the political bands”
Notified populace about reasons which the Richard Henry Lee
Resolution was adopted by the Continental Congress
Affirmed natural law in a Lockean fashion – “life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness”
Affirmed the natural right to overthrow one’s government if
it becomes tyrannical – “whenever any form of government
becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter
or abolish it”
Announced that the states were “Free and Independent,” and had all
the powers that free states do
5. Other Themes
Noted that the colonies had made attempts to redress
grievances without avail
Olive Branch Petititon, written by Jefferson and John Dickinson
in 1775
Many among the colonies believed George III would intervene
and stop Parliament’s actions
Explicitly mentioned the true purpose of government
Protect individual rights
7. Charges Listed
Reminiscent of Grand Remonstrance of 1641 – charges against
King Charles Stuart
Charges
Dissolution of legislatures – “He has dissolved Representative Houses
repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of
the people.”
Controlled judiciary – “He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone,
for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.”
Invasion of privacy/property – “He has erected a multitude of New
Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out
their substance.”
Abridging Constitution – “For taking away our Charters, abolishing our
most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our
Governments:”
Incendiary indictment on the British slave trade – he has “waged war
on human nature itself”- later removed in proceedings
9. Free State Powers
“That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought
to be Free and Independent States; that they are
Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown,
and that all political connection between them and
the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally
dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States,
they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace,
contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do
all other Acts and Things which Independent States
may of right do.”
10. Misconceptions
Did not create a national union
States were “Free an Independent,” not part of a consolidated
mass
States always referred to in the plural in the document
Jefferson was not widely known as the author until the 1790s
Not a “founding document”
Not the basis of United States Constitution
States operated essentially as independent republics
Written through common cause of the states, not a nationalist
sentiment
