Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence
In Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, learn how the colonies made the case for independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War. A Committee of Five, including Thomas Jefferson, drafted the document, drawing on ideas from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and John Locke. The Declaration outlined reasons for independence, the philosophy behind it, the king’s offenses, and concluded with the resolution for freedom. It was approved on July 4, 1776, and its original draft is now on permanent display in Washington, D.C.
Lesson Express
Q: Why was a Committee of Five created to draft the Declaration of Independence?
A: To present a united argument for independence and ensure the colonies’ case was carefully written and persuasive.
Q: What philosophical influences shaped Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration?
A: Ideas from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and John Locke, emphasizing natural rights and government by consent.
Q: What are the four key sections of the Declaration of Independence, and what does each convey?
A: 1) Why independence was needed, 2) the preamble outlining the philosophy of rights, 3) particulars of the king’s offenses, 4) the conclusion with the resolution for independence.
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