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Declaration of Independence

Kristen Hoskins

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Introduction

What is your definition of independence?

Webster’s dictionary defines the word independence as: 1. The quality or condition of being independent,esp. Freedom from dependence upon or control by others.

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Introduction

Do you agree with his definition?

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Topics of Discussion

What events led to the declaration of independence?

The committee of five

Chronology of events from June 7, 1776 to January 18, 1777.

A look at the declaration

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Topics of Discussion

Letter by Thomas Jefferson

Conclusion

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What events led to the Declaration of Independence?

The British North American colonies that joined together in the American Revolution became the original states of the U.S., are referred to as the Thirteen Colonies.

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What events led to the Declaration of Independence?

The thirteen colonies were:MassachusettsRhode islandConnecticutNew YorkNew JerseyPennsylvaniaDelawareMarylandVirginia North CarolinaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaNew Hampshire

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Map of the Thirteen Colonies

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Thirteen Colonies 1775-1783

The Thirteen Colonies that were to become the United States wanted independence from Britain.

The Britain favored a policy called mercantilism, which tried to regulate colonial commerce in the British interest.

The Stamp Act passed by Parliament in 1765 roused a violent colonial opposition.

It was repealed in 1766

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The Townsend Acts of 1767, led to acts of violence which included the Boston Massacre of 1770, and the Boston Tea Party (1773). Britain responded with the Intolerable Acts.

Colonists outraged by all of these events convened at the Continental Congress.

In June 1775, Congress established the Continental Army and continental currency and later a post office for the “United Colonies.”

Events that Led to the Declaration

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The Colonies during this time were treated as a foreign entity.

One by one, the Continental Congress continued to cut the colonies’ ties to Britain.

The colonies’ are moving toward independence at this time.

Events that Led to the Declaration

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The Committee of Five

The committee consisted of two New England Men, John Adams of Massachusetts and Roger Sherman of Connecticut; two men from the Middle Colonies, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York; and one southerner, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.

These are the men who are responsible for the Declaration of Independence.

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Chronology Of Events

June 7, 1776 to January 18, 1777

1776

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Chronology Of Events

June 7- Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, receives Richard Henry Lee’s resolution urging Congress to declare independence.

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Chronology Of EventsJune 11- Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin,

Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston appointed to a committee to draft a declaration of independence. American army retreats to Lake Champlain from Canada.

June 12-27- Jefferson, at the request of the committee, drafts a declaration, of which only a fragment exists. Jefferson’s clean, or “fair” copy, the “original Rough draught,” is reviewed by the committee. Both documents are in the manuscript collections of the Library of Congress.

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Chronology Of EventsJune 28- A fair copy of the committee draft of the

Declaration of Independence is read in Congress.

July 1-4- Congress debates and revises the Declaration of Independence.

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Chronology Of EventsJuly 2-Congress declares independence as the British fleet

and army arrive at New York.

July 4- Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence in the morning of a bright, sunny, but cool Philadelphia day. John Dunlap prints the Declaration of Independence. These prints are now called “Dunlap Broadsides.”

July 5- John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, dispatches the first of Dunlap’s broadsides of the Declaration of Independence to the legislatures of New Jersey and Delaware.

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Chronology Of EventsJuly 6- Pennsylvania Evening Post of July 6 prints the first

newspaper rendition of the Declaration of Independence.

July 8- The first public reading of the Declaration is in Philadelphia.

July 9- Washington orders that the Declaration of Independence be read before the American army in New York.

July 19-Congress orders the Declaration of Independence engrossed and signed by members.

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Chronology Of Events

August 2- Delegates begin to sign engrossed copy of Declaration.1777January 18- Congress, now sitting in Baltimore, Maryland, orders that signed copies of the Declaration of Independence printed by Mary Katherine Goddard of Baltimore be sent to the states.

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Betsy’s Flag