Advanced Placement United States History

Declaration of Independence

• The world: to present the reasons for becoming independent, to be recognized by other countries & to solicit help,


• Parliament: to justify to Parliament their reason for separating, to show Parliament that it had the chance for peace but failed,


• Moderate Americans: to convince to support the cause


• English citizens: to convince them that the colonists were in the right, to make the war unpopular in England


• Other oppressed colonies: to show them they don’t have to put up with oppression

• Lists same grievances


• Respects Parliament as a legislative body


• Explains reasons for grievances (why Parliament is doing the wrong thing)


• Grievances offend a standard set of rights


• General statements ( specific grievances ( Actions colonies will take

• Rights of Englishmen ( natural rights (human rights)


• Instead of trying to heal the relationship, this document declares the relationship is finished


• Not worried about offending anybody: king is called a tyrant – tone, wording, etc.


• Poses political theory – government helps the people to better their lives, government gains its power from the people, government protects natural rights, if government does not do its job it should be overthrown and replaced


• Does not assert loyalty to the Crown or to Parliament – no complements to either


• Includes a summary of what has already been tried, and has been found ineffective


• Assertion of rights & how actions violated those rights (“The Stamp Act violates this right…)  ( Personal: “He has …”


• Happiness ( Liberty ( Life: Propaganda in order to build support and to vilify Parliament the Crown

posted by Jeffrey @ Wednesday, February 01, 2006