The Declaration of Independence

 

At first, colonists had to decide what they were fighting for:

       

their rights as Englishmen within the British Empire or total independence from Britain

 

Why did they choose independence?

 

Anger at British military and use of Hessian mercenaries

 

a Declaration would make captured soldiers prisoners of war instead of traitors

 

Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense

 

American forces had gained victories against the British which inspired confidence

 

Independence could lead to other nations (such as France) aiding the colonists

 

 

The Declaration was adopted July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress

 

It was mainly written by Thomas Jefferson, and was based on the work of John Locke

 

What effects did the Declaration have?

 

*Turned the rebellion against England into a war for 

  independence

*Encouraged France and Spain to assist the colonies

*Inspired the French Revolution and revolutions in Latin America

  in the early 1800s

*Encouraged Americans to engage in social movements to gain

  equality