Declaration of Independence II

Who wrote Common Sense and where was he from originally?

Thomas Paine, born in England.

What form did Common Sense take and when did it first appear?

A short pamphlet (~26 pages), published late 1775.

What main idea did Paine argue about Britain ruling America?

It made no sense for an island (Britain) to rule a continent (America).

How did Paine use John Winthrop's 'city on a hill' idea?

Paine argued America should be a moral example of self-government to the world.

Which institution did Paine attack most directly in Common Sense?

Monarchy — especially the role of the king.

What effect did Common Sense have on popular opinion?

It shifted public sentiment toward supporting independence and increased hostility to royal symbols.

Give an example of colonial reactions to royal symbols after Common Sense.

Statues and royal emblems were torn down; New Yorkers melted a statue of King George into musket balls.

Which two leading figures quietly pushed for a push toward independence in Congress?

John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.

What action did Virginia take in June 1776 that moved Congress toward independence?

Richard Henry Lee brought a Virginia resolution declaring the colonies 'ought to be free and independent states.'

Who was selected to draft the Declaration of Independence?

A Committee of Five—Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston; Jefferson wrote the draft.

How did Jefferson feel about writing the Declaration?

He wrote reluctantly but produced the initial draft that the committee and Congress edited.

Which Enlightenment thinker heavily influenced Jefferson's phrasing about rights?

John Locke (life, liberty, and property → Jefferson's life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness).

What rhetorical technique did Jefferson follow when listing grievances?

He used a catalog of abuses against the king, building to a powerful final charge.

Jefferson's last grievance in the original draft addressed what issue?

Slavery—he accused the king of promoting the slave trade and 'waging cruel war against human nature.'

Why was the slavery passage removed from the final Declaration?

Southern delegates (e.g., South Carolina) objected; it was cut to secure unanimous support.

What famous phrase opens the Declaration's rights language?

'We hold these truths to be self-evident...'.

Translate Jefferson's idea of equality in one line.

Everyone is born with inalienable rights that government must protect.

Which phrase of Locke's was adapted by Jefferson into a more poetic form?

Locke's 'life, liberty, and property' → Jefferson's 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'

Who edited Jefferson's draft before it reached Congress and suggested removing some religious phrasing?

Benjamin Franklin (and John Adams also revised).

What important constitutional idea did the Declaration assert about government?

Government's legitimacy derives from the consent of the governed.

When did Congress formally adopt the Declaration of Independence?

July 4, 1776 (the final text was adopted then; signatures were added over time).

Was everyone in Congress immediately in favor of independence in early 1776?

No — majority opinion shifted through early 1776; many delegates were cautious until public opinion changed.

What role did public distribution of Common Sense play in the independence movement?

It popularized radical ideas and made independence a topic of mass discussion (preachers read it aloud, etc.).

How did Jefferson balance theory and rhetoric in the Declaration?

He combined Lockean political theory with poetic phrasing to make abstract rights compelling.

Why did Congress remove Jefferson's slavery passage, aside from Southern opposition?

Concern that keeping it would fracture unity and prevent some colonies from signing.

What moral/political claim did the Declaration put forward about rebellion?

If a government violates natural rights, the people have the right and duty to alter or abolish it.

What practical step followed the Virginia resolution for independence?

Congress appointed the committee to draft a declaration and then debated and edited the draft.

What metaphor captures the Declaration's role in American identity?

It's a founding proposition—a creed that defines the nation's purpose (a nation of principles).

After edits, what feature of Jefferson's draft remained central?

The list of grievances against the king and the assertion of natural rights.

What did the phrase 'all men are created equal' primarily assert in Jefferson's time?

That people possess equal inalienable rights (a political/legal claim, not social or economic equality).