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What I learned from HippoCampus U.S. History & Government- Homework and Study Help:

U.S. History:Lesson 12- Declaration of Independence 

I am creating a unit plan on the Declaration of Independence with two other group mates, and this website was extremely helpful!

"We have it in our power to begin the world again"

Thomas Paine created the great document known today as Common Sense. Many colonists were writing documents to the King asking him to ease up on some of the laws, but nothing was working. As a result, in January of 1776, Paine criticized King George III and called him a "Royal Blue who was unworthy of American respect." The main argument Paine made was that an island does not have the capacity to rule a continent, because it defied natural law. Paine created a great ruckus, but one that had a point. The Continental Congress even had each state form governments and write their own statements of Independence. Paine's goal was to make sure that no one else was under King George III's rule anymore.

June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee told the Continental Congress "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." This announced America's break from England.

The Continental Congress then created their committee to write the formal document called The Declaration of Independence: Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson. On June 28, Jefferson submitted the final draft to the Continental Congress.

What is stated in the Declaration:

1.  Justify the American Revolution
2. An expression of the American mind
3.  Natural Rights
4.  People have the right to overthrow their government when it abuses their fundamental rights

Jefferson also made a lengthy list of King George III's violations of the Americans rights. An important example is, imposing taxes on colonists without their consent.

July 2, 1776 The Continental Congress passed Lee's resolution to declare American Independence from British rile. 

On July 4, 1776 delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence 

• Patriots became rebels subject to treason (because they signed the Declaration)
• "We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." 
• "We must hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." -Thus a nation was birthed 

The Declaration of Independence was not all that popular at first, but then a few years later, many countries that strived for freedom adopted the ways of the Declaration and used it as a guideline to make their own. Today, the Declaration of Independence remains an inspiration for freedom loving people. 

I really enjoyed this website, because not only did it explain the topic via text, but it also had a video that was easy to understand. This website helps all kinds of learners find a great way to remember the information. It was filled with great reliable facts and good pictures.