Declaration of Independence
1. What is the most famous line in the DOC?
2. Who were the 3 representatives of Georgia who signed the DOC?
3. Who wrote the DOC?
4. How did Thomas Paine influence the construction of the DOC?
2. Who were the 3 representatives of Georgia who signed the DOC?
3. Who wrote the DOC?
4. How did Thomas Paine influence the construction of the DOC?
The Declaration of Independence is probably one of the most remarkable and well known event / document during the founding of America. The document declared the 13 colonies to unite and become one nation and independent from British rule. Even though they didn’t agree on everything, they still became one. The declaration was written in 1776 and was well revised. The Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776. There were 56 delegates that signed the Declaration of Independence in favor of their colony. Georgia had sent 3 people to represent them. The first one was named Button Gwinnett.
Button Gwinnett was born in England, but came to Georgia and eventually scored a plot of land for himself. Once the idea of independence came to him, he wanted it to happen. He got himself into politics and in the revolution against Britain. Button Gwinnett started to move up the ranks Politically and in Georgia's militia and in 1776 he was elected as a delegate to go to the Continental Congress and sign the declaration of independence.
The 2nd delegate sent in Georgia's place was Lyman Hall. Lyman Hall was from Connecticut, and just like Button Gwinnett, bought a plot in Georgia. Lyman Hall went back and forth between South Carolina and Georgia for a while and then finally came to Georgia and got involved in politics. He soon got elected into the Continental Congress and eventually got selected to be one of Georgia's delegates. Now last, but not least was George Walton. George Walton was originally from Virginia and moved to Georgia. He later got deeply involved with the revolution. George Walton was elected Secretary and President of the Council of Safety. After that he was elected into the Continental Congress and sent as Georgia's 3rd delegate. In honor of the 3 delegate's who signed the Declaration of Independence in Georgia’s name, each of them have had counties and other things named after them. If you look on the Declaration of Independence, you can find the 3 delegates sent by Georgia, each of their signatures on the left, under John Hancock’s. |
Once the declaration was signed, the Patriots (people who wanted independence from Britain) rejoiced to the Declaration of Independence. And the Tories (people who didn’t want to be separated from Britain) didn’t like it. Most of the Tories moved to Britain in fear of being killed or because they just didn’t want Britain out of their life. Soon, after the declaration had been out in the world, people in the 13 colonies wanted a new government. The 13 colonies believed that the governing style was bad and that Britain was too far away to understand their needs and wants. So each state started to make their own set of laws they felt was right, also known as a state constitution. Most of them chose self-government, as Georgia did. They believed that every man should have an equal say in the government. Following to what the declaration said about equal rights, in this line quoted directly from the Declaration: “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." Now, this basically states that every man has his freedoms and natural rights of being an American, and no one can be denied their rights as an American citizen.
Most people that know enough about the Declaration of Independence, would say Thomas Jefferson wrote it. Although Thomas Jefferson did indeed write it, he did not write all of it. There were 56 people at the signing, only a few actually wrote it. Most of the signers just revised it and signed it. The few that actually wrote The Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, John Adams, and Robert R. Livingston. Thomas Jefferson was given the job of writing a draft of the Declaration of Independance. Once Thomas Jefferson was done with the draft, he then gave it to Benjamin Franklin for revision. And then gave it to John Adams, again for revision. After that Thomas Jefferson gave the draft to the Continental Congress, and more revising happened and then finally a final copy was made and signed on July 4th 1776, also known as Independence Day. The Declaration of Independence was written and signed in what was the Pennsylvania State House, which is known today as Independence Hall. One man named Thomas Paine had a great deal of influence on the progression of the revolution and the Second Continental Congress. He had written a pamphlet called Common Sense. This pamphlet alone had sold 120,000 copies in just 3 months and by the end of the year of 1776, it had sold 500,000 copies. Inside the pamphlet it encouraged and pushed the colonists a little more to separate from Great Britain. Later he followed the pamphlet by a series of other pamphlets, encouraging revolution and separation from Great Britain. Thomas Paine wrote in the language everyone could understand, English, just like the Declaration of Independence was written. People in the Continental Congress even stated that they couldn’t have done it without Thomas Paine’s encouraging words. For instance, stated by John Adams: “Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain.” |
Most people that know enough about the Declaration of Independence, would say Thomas Jefferson wrote it. Although Thomas Jefferson did indeed write it, he did not write all of it. There were 56 people at the signing, only a few actually wrote it. Most of the signers just revised it and signed it. The few that actually wrote The Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, John Adams, and Robert R. Livingston. Thomas Jefferson was given the job of writing a draft of the Declaration of Independence. Once Thomas Jefferson was done with the draft, he then gave it to Benjamin Franklin for revision. And then gave it to John Adams, again for revision. After that Thomas Jefferson gave the draft to the Continental Congress, and more revising happened and then finally a final copy was made and signed on July 4th 1776, also known as Independence Day. The Declaration of Independence was written and signed in what was the Pennsylvania State House, which is known today as Independence Hall.=
|
One man named Thomas Paine had a great deal of influence on the progression of the revolution and the Second Continental Congress. He had written a pamphlet called Common Sense. This pamphlet alone had sold 120,000 copies in just 3 months and by the end of the year of 1776, it had sold 500,000 copies. Inside the pamphlet it encouraged and pushed the colonists a little more to separate from Great Britain. Later he followed the pamphlet by a series of other pamphlets, encouraging revolution and separation from Great Britain. Thomas Paine wrote in the language everyone could understand, English, just like the Declaration of Independence was written. People in the Continental Congress even stated that they couldn't have done it without Thomas Paine’s encouraging words. For instance, stated by John Adams: “Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain.”