3 Documents That Started The Revolution
3 Documents That Started The Revolution
3 Documents That Started The Revolution
Document
What two things can people do when the government takes away the property of the people?
Who wrote it
Who helped?
When was it signed?
Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence
1
Background: I know not, John Adams wrote in 1806, whether any man in the world has had
more influence on its inhabitants or affairs for the last thirty years than Thomas Paine. After
enduring many failures in his native England, Paine (1737-1809), whose father was a Quaker,
arrived in Philadelphia in November 1774 at the age of thirty-seven.
By far the Revolutions most important pamphleteer, Paine exerted enormous influence on the
political thinking of the revolutionaries. While men like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams
appealed to the wealthy classes, Paine wrote for ordinary people, who had less formal education.
His pamphlet Common Sense, which sold as many as 150,000 copies in the year after it was
published in January 1776, demanded a complete break with Britain and establishment of a
strong federal union. It was also a powerful attack on the ideas of monarchy and hereditary
privilege.
Volumes have been written on the subject of the struggle between America and England. Men
from all walks of life have entered into the controversy, for different and various reasons; but all
have been senseless and the period of debate is closed. War, as the last resource, must decide
the contest . . .
I have heard it said by some that America flourished under her former connection with Great
Britain, and that to stay happy and prosper and progress, America must stay related or
connected to Great Britain. I answer roundly, that America would have flourished as much, and
probably much more, had no European power had anything to do with her. The articles of
commerce and food by which she enriched herself are necessities of life, and will always have a
market while eating in custom of Europe . . .
We have boasted the protection of Great Britain without considering, that her motive was
interest not attachment: and that she did not protect us from our enemies on our account but
from her enemies on her own account . . .
But Britain is the parent country, some say. Then the more shame her conduct. Even beasts do
not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families . . . Europe, and not England,
is the parent country of America. This new world has been a fortress for the persecuted lovers of
civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Small islands not capable of protecting
themselves, are the once which must be taken care of, but there is something absurd in
supposing a continent [America] is to be governed by an island [Great Britain]. Never has nature
made the satellite larger than its primary planet; in looking at England and America, it can be
seen that just the opposite is true. It is evident they belong to different systems. England belongs
to Europe, America to itself . . . In short, independence is the only bond that can tie and keep us
together . . . The commercial [business] and reasonable part of England will still be with us;
because peace, with trade is preferable to war, without it.
Flourished did well
Commerce trade
to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold
them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge
of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly
publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved
from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to
be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances,
establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this
Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and
our sacred Honor.