Although a written document, the Declaration of Independence was intended to be read aloud throughout the colonies
as a way of inciting frustrated citizens to rebellion against their king
. … It was to be used to raise an army, to protect a rebellion that had just barely begun.
What was the intended purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence was designed for multiple audiences: the King, the colonists, and the world. It was also designed to multitask. Its goals were to
rally the troops, win foreign allies, and to announce the creation of a new country
.
Why were the colonists the main audience for the Declaration of Independence?
The primary audience for the Declaration of Independence was
the American colonists
. This document was written to tell the nation that they were rebelling against the British, essentially imploring the people of the colony to come together and join the cause.
Who was the Declaration of Independence intended to be read by?
Four days later, on July 8, 1776, the citizens of Philadelphia were summoned to the State House Yard by the bells of the city. At noon,
Colonel John Nixon
publicly read the Declaration of Independence for the first time.
What are two reasons why the colonists wrote the Declaration of Independence?
- Forced the colonists to pay for and provide housing for British forces in the colonies.
- Allowed British soldiers to do whatever they wanted, including break the law.
- Forbid colonists to trade with other countries.
- Forced the colonists to pay taxes.
What is the most important part of the Declaration of Independence?
The most important part of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution is
the introductory section called the Preamble
.
What two rights are in the Declaration of Independence?
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
—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent …
What does it say on the Declaration of Independence?
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
.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the …
What are the 3 main points of the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence states three basic ideas: (1)
God made all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
; (2) the main business of government is to protect these rights; (3) if a government tries to withhold these rights, the people are free to revolt and to set up a …
What was happening during the Declaration of Independence?
By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776,
the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain
. The Declaration summarized the colonists' motivations for seeking independence.
How did Thomas Jefferson justify writing the Declaration of Independence?
Drawing on documents, such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights, state and local calls for independence, and his own draft of a Virginia constitution, Jefferson wrote a stunning statement of the colonists' right to
rebel against the British government
and establish their own based on the premise that all men are …
What are the 4 main points of the Declaration of Independence?
People have certain Inalienable Rights including Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness
.
All Men are created equal
.
Individuals have
a civic duty to defend these rights for themselves and others.
What were Jefferson's four main arguments in the Declaration of Independence?
These rights include “
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness
” (compare to Locke's “life, liberty, and estate [property]”), are naturally endowed by virtue of being a human being and should not be abridged by any government.
What is the main purpose of the declaration?
The primary purpose of the declaration was
to assist the Second Continental Congress in obtaining aid from foreign countries
. The document also clearly outlines the history of abuses the colonists had suffered under British rule since the end of the French and Indian war in 1763.
What were the main complaints arguments against Britain in the Declaration of Independence?
The colonists's five main complaints were about the following:
taxes, British troops, tea, the Intolerable Acts, and King George
. The most important reason why the relationship soured was the introduction of numerous taxes by the British. These taxes were levied by the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts.
What is the difference between the Declaration and the Constitution?
The
Declaration was designed to justify breaking away from a government
; the Constitution and Bill of Rights were designed to establish a government. The Declaration stands on its own—it has never been amended—while the Constitution has been amended 27 times.
