The Declaration of Independence
What is our Declaration of
Independence?
 A proclamation that declared to all Americans,
A now very badly faded original copy of the signed
Declaration from the National Archives.
Great Britain, and the world that these 13
colonies were and ought to be free and
independent from the Kingdom of Great Britain.
 It explained the reasons or justifications for
secession or withdrawing from the British crown.
 It was a propaganda tool which tried to show
clear reasons for their rebellion that might
persuade undecided colonists to join them.
 It was used as foreign policy & to establish a
just cause to foreign governments that might
lend them aid.
 The Declaration also served to unite the
members of the Continental Congress.
There is a difference between the Declaration of Independence
and the Constitution of the United States. What is the difference?
•
The Declaration of Independence declares that the colonies are no longer part of the Kingdom of
Great Britain with reasons (changes against the King) why. Key Phase: “When in the course of human
events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them
with another…”
• The Constitution of the United States is a document in which the people decide to create a better
system of government. Key Phase: “We the people of the United States of America, in order to form a
more perfect union…”
How are these Declarations similar?
Dunlap Broadside:
This is a rare type-set copy
of the Declaration (only about 20 exist) that was
sent out in 1776. Notice that the signers’ names are
not present.
How are they different?
This “Goddard” Print:
Typeset in 1777 and does have
all the signers’ names at the bottom, organized by state. The other
thing that was cool was that this print was “authenticated” with an
actual signature of John Hancock at the bottom.
The John Binns copy : 1818
A facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, in an
ornamental oval frame with medallions of seals of the
thirteen original colonies, and medallion portraits of John
Hancock, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Above
is an eagle with shield, olive branch, and arrows, holding a
streamer reading "E Pluribus Unum."
The “Stone” copy
In 1823, William J. Stone was commissioned by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams
to create an engraving of the document essentially identical to the original. This copy
was made using a wet-ink transfer process, where the surface of the document was
moistened, and some of the original ink transferred to the surface of a copper plate
which was then etched so that copies could be run off the plate on a press. Most
modern reproductions are of Stone's copy because the poor handling of the original
1776 document. After the Stone engraving was made, only 202 copies were printed, and
then the plate was destroyed. The engraving also replicated all the signatures that were
on the original.
On the right is an
actual handwritten
copy of the
Declaration written
by John Adams.
On the left is the
Thomas Jefferson
manuscript of the
Declaration.
The 1st steps in declaring independence:
1. On April 6, 1776 the Continental Congress opened
American ports to trade with all nations-except
Great Britain. This amounted to a de facto
declaration of independence.
2. on June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee, a delegate
from Virginia to the Continental Congress, put
forth the following motion which asked to declare
Independence from England: “Resolved: ThaT These
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free
and independent States, that they are absolved
from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that
all political connection between them and the
State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally
dissolved.” This is known as The “Lee resolution”
This is the Lee resolution, adopted July 2, 1776, in
which the Continental Congress affirmed their
independence from great Britain. The words of the
resolution, originally proposed by Virginia delegate
Richard Henry Lee, are echoed in the Declaration
of Independence
The decision of the Continental Congress to cut its
ties to Great Britain came on July 2, 1776, which is the
date that John Adams thought should be celebrated by
future generations. The Declaration of Independence,
drafted mostly by Thomas Jefferson, and edited by his
colleagues in the Continental Congress, was adopted 2
days later.
"The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most
memorable Epocha, in the History of America. . .
. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and
Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells,
Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this
Continent to the other from this Time forward
forever more."
--John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/declarat.html
At right:
Jefferson's "original Rough draught" of the
Declaration of Independence, written in June 1776,
including all the changes made later by John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin and other members of the
committee, and by Congress.
Facts about the Declaration of Independence:
* It is divided into 5 main sections:
1. Introduction: Asserts that it is a “Natural Law” that people have the ability to assume political independence; states that the
grounds for independence must be reasonable, and ought to be explained.
2. Preamble: Outlines a general philosophy of government that justifies revolution when government harms natural rights.
3. Indictment: A bill of particulars documenting the king's "repeated injuries and usurpations" of the Americans’ rights &
liberties.
4. Denunciation: This section finished the case for independence. The conditions that justified revolution have been shown.
5. Conclusion: The signers assert that there exist conditions under which people must change their government, that the British
have produced such conditions, and by necessity the colonies must throw off political ties with the British Crown and become
independent states. The core of the conclusion contains the Lee resolution that had been passed on July 2.
** Congress appointed the "Committee of Five" (John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and
Thomas Jefferson) on June 11 to write a Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson drafted it, Adams and Franklin made
changes to it.
*** On July 2, the Lee resolution was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies (New York did not vote). Immediately afterward, Congress
began to consider the Declaration. Congress made some changes to it on from July 2 - 4.
**** Late in the morning of July 4, the Declaration was officially adopted, and the "Committee of Five" took the manuscript copy of
the document to John Dunlap, official printer to the Congress.
***** On the morning of the July 5, John Dunlap’s printed copies were dispatched by members of Congress to various committees,
assemblies, and to the commanders of the Continental troops.
****** Congress ordered that the Declaration be put on parchment paper with the title of: ‘The unanimous declaration of the
thirteen United States of America’ and that it be signed by every member of Congress."
****** Most members of Congress signed the document on August 2. George Wythe signed on August 27. On September 4,
Richard Henry Lee, Elbridge Gerry, and Oliver Wilcott signed. Matthew Thornton signed on November 19, and Thomas McKean
signed in 1781.