declaration of independence (1776). second continental congress met in 1775 -rejected parliament’s...
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Declaration of Independence
(1776)
• Second Continental Congress met in 1775
-Rejected Parliament’s power to tax
-Many delegates still want reconciliation
• Write the Olive Branch Petition-Appeal to King for peace,
self-government-King ignores
Moving Towards Independence
Enlightenment Ideas• 17th-18th C: logic and reason can be used
to improve society, law, gov’t• Thomas Paine writes “Common Sense”
based on enlightenment Ideas• John Locke (17C) Social Contract
Theory1) People are born with 3 natural
rights: life, liberty, property2) Gov’ts job is to protect natural
rights of the people3) When the gov’t does not protect
rights, people have right to rebel
A Nation is Born• On July 4, 1776 the Second
Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence written mostly by Thomas Jefferson
• Announced colonies break with GB• Jefferson used the ideas of Locke:
1) men possessed certain “inalienable rights”
including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”
2) King George III passed unfair laws and taxed unfairly 3) Colonists had right to declare ind. because King broke social contract
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