The Revolutionary and Early National Period PDF

THE REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LESSON PLAN OUTLINE – Historical Background – Revolutionary Literature Thomas Jefferson’s The Declaration of Independence (+Quiz 3)* * Thursday 12th September, 3 pm Historical Background: Overview In the eighteen century, the faith...

THE REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LESSON PLAN OUTLINE – Historical Background – Revolutionary Literature Thomas Jefferson’s The Declaration of Independence (+Quiz 3)* * Thursday 12th September, 3 pm Historical Background: Overview In the eighteen century, the faith of the Puritan subsided. Broadly speaking, the eighteen century was dedicated not to religion but to science and politics. A god-centered world became a man- centered world. Life guided by Bible became life guided by human reason. Some scholars label this period as “The Age of Reason” How did it come about that faith in human reason gradually suppressed the beliefs of the Puritan Age? What factors led to the Revolution? Historical Background: A World of Change Where did the first two groups of English immigrants settle in American continent? – Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 – Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 The populations of the colonies was rapidly increasing as a result of massive migration. Unlike the earlier migrations, those of the eighteen-century marked by increasing numbers of non-English – Irish, German, Scottish, Dutch, French, Jews, and African slaves. By 1700 there were thirteen colonies which became The United States. The 13 colonies were inhabited by 250,000 people. Historical Background: A World of Change Connecticut Colony Delaware Colony Georgia Colony Maryland Colony Massachusetts Colony New Jersey Colony New York Colony New Hampshire Colony North Carolina Colony Pennsylvania Colony Rhode Island Colony South Carolina Colony Virginia Colony Historical Background: A World of Change This resulted in more ethnic diversity, religious difference, and a disinterest in the English monarchy. The colonies after 1700 was no longer the same as it had been over the half century ago and the Middle Colonies, once stabilized, grew and prospered economically and culturally. Two main factors leading the Revolution in 1776 The Enlightenment Unfair Treatment from England Historical Background: The Enlightenment The Enlightenment began in Europe with rationalist philosophers and scientists; coincided with the rise of empirical science. People believed they were emerging from centuries of darkness and ignorance into a new age enlightened by reason, science and a respect for humanity. American colonists adapted these Enlightenment ideals to their own environment. One of the most important voices of the Enlightenment came from John Locke. Locke’s idea brought about the feeling of patriotism among Americans, who began to think of separating themselves from England and this idea eventually led to the War of Independence (1775-83). Locke’s idea also influenced the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Framers of the Constitution more than any. Historical Background: The Enlightenment Examples of John Locke’s Beliefs all people are born equal education can free people from the subjugation of tyranny. government has a moral obligation to guarantee that individuals always retain sovereignty over their own rights, including ownership of property that results from their own labor. Governments are formed to protect the right to life, the right to freedom, and the right to property. These rights are absolute, belonging to all the people. Historical Background: Unfair Treatments During a period of a hundred years, the English took more liberties of the colonists, taxing them unfairly and not giving them protection or supplies in return. As a result, colonists grew increasingly frustrated with England. Once they decided that they could no longer live under British rule, they signed the Declaration of Independent in 1776 and won their freedom a few years later in the American revolutionary War. Revolutionary Literature While it may sound strange, some of the most famous figures of the American Revolution lived at the same time as Puritans. As products of the Enlightenment, however, revolutionary writers focused their energies on matters of government rather than religion. – Writers focused on explaining and justifying the American Revolution – After the Revolution, this period becomes known as Early Nationalism. Writers begin to ponder what it really means to be an American. Revolutionary Literature Writing was public, persuasive and political Pamphlets, magazines, newspapers, speeches Cultural norms were politically conservative, patriarchal & white-dominant Most American writers tried to distance themselves from their European ancestors Representative authors: – Benjamin Franklin (biography, essays) – Patrick Henry (speech) – Thomas Paine (pamphlet) – Thomas Jefferson (political documents) – Abigail Adams (letters) Thomas Jefferson: Declaration of Independence (1776) Thomas Jefferson was born and raised in Virginia. He was a man of many talents: philosopher, scientist, farmer, architect and inventor. He was governor of Virginia, ambassador to France, and third President of the United States. Jefferson is best known for writing the Declaration of Independence, the document came about as people started thinking for themselves and realized they wanted to be free from England’s rule. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) The Declaration of Independence, completed and signed in July of 1776, marked the official separation between the 13 colonies and Great Britain. In composing the declaration, Jefferson drew on ideas from the Enlightenment, especially those of John Locke. Not only did the declaration represent a milestone in the history of the United States, it also turned the political philosophies of 18th century Europe into real political practice. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Our discussion today will mainly cover the following two parts: – Background information to the Declaration of Independence – The Declaration of Independence (p. 62-64) Preamble (introduction) Lists of Abuses Past Actions of the Colonies Conclusion and Definition of a New Government Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Background information to the Declaration of Independence The thirteen colonies in the America's had been at war with Britain for around a year when the Second Continental Congress decided it was time for the colonies to officially declare their independence. This meant that they were breaking away from British rule. They would no longer be a part of the British Empire and would fight for their freedom. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? On June 11, 1776 the Continental Congress appointed five leaders, called the Committee of Five, to write a document explaining why they were declaring their independence. The five members were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, and Thomas Jefferson. The members decided that Thomas Jefferson should write the first draft. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft over the next few weeks and, after some changes made by the rest of the committee, they presented it to Congress on June 28, 1776. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Did everyone agree? Not everyone agreed at first on declaring independence. In the first round of voting South Carolina and Pennsylvania voted "no" while New York and Delaware chose not to vote. The Congress wanted the vote to be unanimous, so they continued to discuss the issues. The next day, July 2nd, South Carolina and Pennsylvania reversed their votes. Delaware decided to vote "yes" as well. This meant that the agreement to declare independence passed with 12 yes votes and 1 abstention (meaning New York chose not to vote). Which did the Congress cut out of Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence? Some references to British people (Jefferson blamed British people for not taking side with the Colonies) All references to slavery (Jefferson blamed the King for Slavery) Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Preamble (introduction) Lists of Abuses Past Actions of the Colonies Conclusion and Definition of a New Government Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Part I: Preamble (1) the purpose of writing the Declaration of Independence and (2) the fundamental values of the new American government What is the purpose of writing the Declaration of Independence? (1st paragraph) – …a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation (to explain what causes that make the separation necessary) Sometimes it is necessary for a group of people to separate themselves from their government and create a new country. This is a serious decision so it is important that we spell out the causes that make this necessary Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) What are the fundamental values of the new American government? (2nd paragraph – line 1-7) – We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness… All men are created equal and they have some rights given to them by God - that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Governments exist to support the rights of men. They exist only through the consent (or permission) of the governed. When a government stops acting in the interest of the people, the people have the right to abolish that government and form a new government. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Should the governments be abolished easily? (2nd paragraph– line 7-13) – Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments should not be changed for light and transient causes… Governments should not be abolished for trivial reasons; it is not typical for people to change a system that they are accustomed to. However, when the people have suffered many abuses under the control of a totalitarian leader, they not only have the right but the duty to abolish that government. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Part II: Lists of abuses (starting from paragraph 2 – line 13) Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; ad such is now… The Colonies have suffered in this way for a long time. King George III, the King of Great Britain has repeatedly made laws and judgments that injure us and we live under absolute tyranny. How many abuses were listed in the Declaration of Independence? The colonies have suffered 26 abuses at the hands of the King George III. The first 12 abuses were King George III’ s establishment of a tyrannical authority in place of representative government. Abuses 13 through 21 described the involvement of British parliament in destroying the colonists' right to self-rule. The last 5 abuses, 22 through 26, were specific actions that the King of Great Britain took to abandon the colonies and to wage war against them. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) The first 12 abuses were King George III’ s establishment of a tyrannical authority in place of representative government. (1) He has refused to approve laws that we have passed that will help the Colonies govern themselves. (2) He has forbidden the Colonies from putting into effect new laws until he approves them. Once we submit them for his approval he ignores them. (3) He would approve laws that serve the needs of people only if they gave up their traditional rights of a representative government. (4) He has called lawmakers together at unusual places, at strange times and in uncomfortable places so that we will be fatigued into agreeing with him. (5) If he doesn’t like what one of the Colonies’ legislatures has done, he disbands the legislature and sends the lawmakers home. (6) When this happens, he refuses to let new lawmakers be elected. This leaves our Colonies without a local government to protect us. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) The first 12 abuses were King George III’ s establishment of a tyrannical authority in place of representative government. (7) He has failed to encourage new people to move here and has refused to open up new areas in the colonies for people to live. (8) He refuses to appoint judges and once appointed he doesn’t give Colonial judges the power to decide cases. (9) He makes judges do what he wants by making them dependent on him for their salary. (10) He sends over too many government employees who harass us and they are a burden on our taxes. (11) Even during peacetime, he keeps large armies here without our permission. (12) His army refuses to obey the police force and they break laws when they want. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Abuses 13 through 21 described the involvement of British parliament in destroying the colonists' right to self-rule. The king has combine with the British parliament to subject the colonists to legislation passed without colonial consent. Legislation has been passed in order to (13) to quarter troops in the colonies (14) to protect his armies from punishment for any crimes they commit against us by using fake trials (15) to restrict our trade with all parts of the world (16) to impose taxes without our consent (17) to deprive us of trial by jury (18) to force colonists to be trialed in England (19) to exert complete control over a nearby territory as a warning of his intentions for the American colonies (20) to take away the authority of colonial governments (21) to stop our local governments from making decisions and claimed they had the right to make all the laws for us Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) The last 5 abuses, 22 through 26, were specific actions that the King of Great Britain took to abandon the colonies and to wage war against them (22) He has declared that we are not under his protection any longer and he wages war against us. (23) He has captured our ships, burns our towns, and destroys the lives of our people. (24) He has sent even larger armies to the Colonies to make war against us. (25) He has forced captured Americans to fight against their own country or even kill their fellow citizens. (26) He has stirred up revolts and tried to get the native people to attack everyone, no matter their age or gender. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Part III: Past Actions of the Colonies How did the Colonies react to such abuses? Did they use violent means? In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for… The colonists have used non-violent means, such as petitions, to protest the abuses of King George III. Each attempt to request peaceful negotiations was met by neglect and more abuse. The colonists tried to appeal to Parliament and other British citizens for help. These attempts were ignored. Colonists appealed to British citizens' sense of justice, to their shared heritage and culture, and to their economic connection. These attempts failed Therefore, it is necessary that we announce our separation. If Great Britain wants to be an enemy then we are at war. If they want friendship then we will have peace. Thomas Jefferson: The Declaration of Independence (1776) Part IV: Conclusion and Definition of the New Government The Second Continental Congress represents the people of the new nation called the United States of America. This declaration informs all the people of the world that the 13 united colonies are free from British rule and any political connections with Great Britain. We now have the full power of independent countries. We have the power to wage war, conclude peace and make alliances with other countries. The newly independent states believe that God will protect them in their venture to establish a just government. The citizens of each colony have pledged their loyalty and lives to the cause of the newly independent nation.