The main idea is that all people are equal in the eyes of God and that certain rights are God-given and cannot be taken away by men or governments. The topic of legitimacy is explored in relation to King George III of Great Britain and to the people of the North Ame Declaration of Independence, 17761 IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, The Declaration of Independence states three basic ideas: (1) God made all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; (2) the main business of government is to protect these rights; (3) if a government tries to withhold these rights, the people are free to revolt and to set up a new government. The Declaration was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare American independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It was adopted by the Congress during the American Revolutionary War, which commenced in April 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Locke strongly believed in freedom Part 2: List 5 major points/values that were embedded into the Declaration of Independence. Compare those points to today? Do we still hold the same points/values or have things changed? Point/Value Comparison to today Equality We have made significant strides toward a more equal society. The introductory sentence states the Declaration’s main purpose, to explain the colonists’ right to revolution. In other words, “to declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” Congress had to prove the legitimacy of its cause. It had just defied the most powerful nation on Earth. Inquizitive Chapter 2 Quiz (The Founding and the Constitution) 5.0 (1 review) What were some of the major points of disagreement during ratification of the Constitution? The Two Treatises of Government A book about government written by the english philosopher John Locke. The Declaration of Independence was based on these principles of government. What are the principles of government described in the book the Two Treatises of Government Some major points in this declaration: *All men are created equal. *All men have basic human rights given to them by God. *The only reason to have a government is to protect these basic human rights, which Jefferson lists as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." *Government must be by the consent of the governed. Hope this helps Washington, DC (National Archives): 1952-present *Except that the document was displayed on April 13, 1943, at the dedication of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. Back to Main Declaration of Independence Page Learn about Our National Treasure, interesting and informative facts about the Declaration and its history. The document is divided into three main parts: the Preamble, the Declaration of Natural Rights, and the List of Grievances. The Preamble outlines the philosophical foundation of the document, emphasizing the principles of equality and the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This formal declaration of independence ends with important words. The words tell us what the signers of the Declaration of Independence were willing to give up for freedom: “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” On July 4, 1776, after two days of debate and editing, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence submitted by the Committee of Five. The Declaration of Independence is made up of three major parts: the preamble; the body, and the conclusion. The Declaration of Independence is the foundational document of the United States of America. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it explains why the Thirteen Colonies decided to separate from Great On July 4, the Continental Congress voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence, drafted by a five-man committee including Franklin and John Adamsbut written mainly by Jefferson. The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It was engrossed on parchment and on August 2, 1776, delegates began signing it. Summary: The Declaration of Independence, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, outlines key arguments for the American colonies' separation from Britain. The American Revolution (1775–83) was an insurrection carried out by 13 of Great Britain’s North American colonies, which won political independence and went on to form the United States of America. The war followed more than a decade of growing estrangement between the British crown and many North American colonists. Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original. Adoption of the Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence which formally proclaimed the 13 colonies as independent. The war, however, continued as Britain was not willing to give up its North American colonies.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |