Declaration of Independence

why did colonists write the declaration of independence/what did they want

freedom, less/ no taxes, representation, Freedom of speech / religion

What were the enlightenment ideas that inspired a lot of the Declaration of Independence

natural rights, consent of the government, social contract, Republicanism

who were the main three European philosophers whose ideals inspired the Declaration of Independence

locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu

what are natural right / unalienable rights and who came up with them

the idea that all humans are born with certain rights that cannot be taken away like life, liberty, the pursuit of Happiness, and property, locke

what is consent of the governed and who came up with it

The government should work for the people and if citizens don't like how the government behaves they have the right to revolt, rousseau

what is the social contract and who came up with it

citizens agree to give up some freedoms in exchange for protection (police/military), rousseau

what is Republicanism and who came up with it

people get to elect their leaders, Montesquieu

why can't the government take rights away

everyone is born with them and they're protected under the Constitution

what quote from the DoI has been used throughout history by many groups to fight for their rights

all men are created equal

What groups have used the quote all men are created equal fight for their rights and what amendments protect their rights

end slavery (13), women’s suffrage (voting, 19), civil rights (14, 15, 24)

What is the Declaration of Independence

a letter the American colonies wrote To King George III of Britain in 1776 to establish freedom and declare that they are becoming their own country

who wrote the Declaration of Independence

thomas Jefferson was the main writer but other important people like John Adams and Benjamin Franklin helped edit it

go through practice test questions packet

done

why did Thomas Jefferson change property in natural rights to the pursuit of Happiness

it's a statement that is more vague and can be interpreted in different ways by different people and it promises a happy life instead of just material things

what was the Enlightenment and what was it also called

A period of time when people developed new ideas about human existence including people's basic rights and the level of control they should have over their government and their futures, also known as the age of reason