Declaring Independence
United States History
Battles of Lexington and Concord
•First battles of the American Revolution
•Small towns outside of Boston, Massachusetts
•Redcoats (British) come to seize weapons fromcolonists.
•Colonists are tipped off by Paul Revere.
•Patriot causalities are light; redcoats retreat toBoston.
•Official start of the war
–“Shot Heard Round the World”
Patriot Soldier
Redcoat (British Soldier)
Loyalists vs. Patriots
•Not all colonists wanted independence.
•Olive Branch Petition
–Colonists are loyal to King George III, but not toparliament.
–King rejects petition, sends more troops.
•Loyalists (20%) wanted to stay loyal to England.
–Opposed taxes, but did not support Revolution.
–Did not agree with Patriot policies
•Patriots wanted independence.
Cartoon by Benjamin Franklin
Philosophical Foundations of theDeclaration of Independence
•Thomas Paine
–English immigrant
–The real T-Paine
•Wrote Common Sense(pamphlet)
–150,000+ copies produced
–Argued for independencefrom Britain and unitybetween 13 colonies.
–The “common man” shouldhave as much opportunityas a king.
The Declaration on Independence
•Influence by CommonSense
•Written July 2nd- July 4th,1776.
•Written primarily byThomas Jefferson.
–List of grievances
–“All Men are CreatedEqual”
–“Life, Liberty, Pursuit ofHappiness.”
•Independence declared,but not yet achieved!
Jefferson
