Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

1. The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Britian

   • Grievances within the Declaration of Independence
     • King George III would not attend to the rights of the colonists
     • King George III had anti-immigration laws against the Spanish, Dutch, and Germans
     • There is no fair trial by jury
     • Quartering Acts, whic forced colonists to house soldiers
     • King George III imposed taxes without the consent of the colonies
     • The justification used for declaring independence was proof of the colonist's personal rights being ignored. They listed their rights under Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
     • Forced colonists into the navy and made them fight fellow colonists.

2. Bill of RIghts

   • The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments tot he constitution. It defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government.
     • The Bill of Rights was added to place empahsis on the basic rights that were described in the Declaration of Independence. The Bill of Rights was a well put together list of those rights.
       • 1st Amendment - Guarantees the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and the right to petition government
       • 2nd Amendment - Guarantees the right to bear arms.
       • 3rd Amendment - Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in homes in peacetime.
       • 4th Amendment - Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.
       • 5th Amendment - Requires grand jury indictment for a serious crime, bans double jeopardy, no loss of life, liberty or property without due process of law
       • 6th Amendment - Guarantees the right to a speedy, impartial public trial in criminal cases with counsel and the right to cross examine.
       • 7th Amendment - Guarantees the right to jury trial in civil suits involving $20.00 or more.
       • 8th Amendment - Prohibits excessive bail or fines or cruel or unusual punishment
       • 9th Amendment - We have many other rights than what are listed in the Bill of Rights. Our rights are not limited by the Bill of Rights.
       • 10th Amendment - Asserts that powers not delegated to the national government or denied to the states are reserved to the states.
   • The Bill of Rights was a document added to showccase these rights they spoke of.

3. The authors believed that the purpose of government was to protect the citizens of that nation and the rights of the citizens within that nation

4. "All men are created equal" was defined by stating all the rights that is obligated to man to show that these rights should be offered to EVERYONE because all men were created by the same God and are entitled to these rights.

5. Declaration of Sentiments

   • Men have taken away their rights in all property, even to wages she earns.
   • In terms of divorce and gaurdianship, all of the power was given to men.
   • The demand was that women be given immediate admission to all the rights and priviliges that belong to them as citizens of the United States.
   • This document was modeled after the Declaration of Indipence becuase in that, citizens were declaring their independence from the Birtish while simultaneously naming the reasons for this. This document is the women declaring their independence from Men and a government that has oppressed them for a very long time.
   • The women expect "misconception, misrepresentation, and ridicule."
   • The women planned to continue fighting by employing agents, curculating tracts, and petitioning the state and national legislatures.
   • The most controversial was most likely the womens stance on voting.