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Explore the life and accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson, including his role as an architect, designer, botanist, governor of Virginia, paleontologist, writer, musician, diplomat, and the 3rd President of the United States. Learn about his upbringing, his contributions to the Declaration of Independence, and fascinating facts about his relationships with other prominent figures of the time.
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The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson
TJ’s Biography • Architect • Designer • Botanist • Governor of Virginia • Paleontologist • Writer • Musician • Diplomat • 3rd President of the United States
TJ’s Biography • 1746-1826 • Born in Virginia • Lived on an estate of 5,000 acres • Father died when Thomas was 14 • Jefferson died on the morning of July 4, several hours before Adams
Fun Fact to Discuss at Parties • Both Ben Franklin and John Adams, the New England patriot, declined to write the Declaration. • Adams told Jefferson: • A Virginian ought to lead the “business” • I (Adams) am obnoxious and unpopular • You (Jefferson) write ten times better than me
Summary of From The Autobiography: The Declaration of Independence • This selection from Jefferson’s autobiography shows how the Second Continental Congress altered his original draft to produce the final draft.
Summary of From The Autobiography: The Declaration of Independence • He recounts how the Congress ruled out passages renouncing kinship with the English people (to avoid offense) and passages banning slavery (slave-holding colonies may oppose the Declaration)
Summary of From The Autobiography: The Declaration of Independence • He presents his full version with the underlined portions deleted. • What Congress added was placed in the margins.
The 1st & 2nd Paragraphs • The first paragraph’s purpose is to state why independence is being declared. • The second paragraph describes the ideal relationship between a people and its government, outlines the conditions for rebellion. • The second paragraph asserts that the British king creates such hostile conditions
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. • Introductory paragraph
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 of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. • 1st half of 2nd paragraph
The Next 20 Paragraphs • Many are composed of a single long sentence. • They cite specific examples of the king’s abuses • The last 5 paragraphs develop the ideas of the first two and solemnly declare the independence of the United States from allegiance to the British crown
Notice the syntax of this paragraph • He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: for quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: for protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: for cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: for imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: for depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury: for transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: for abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies; for taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: for suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
The Following Slides are Guiding Questions for In-class Discussions. Please establish norms for the classroom.
What does freedom and responsibility mean to you? • Are these rights something you take for granted, or do you hold them precious? • Comment on how you regard freedom and equality.
For Locke, to be legitimate, government must protect your rights. Is that enough? • What if you never get to have a say in what government does?
You are free by nature, thinks Locke, but there is a difference between freedom and “license.” • Is Locke right to argue that it is possible to abuse a freedom that one has a right to?
Locke thinks that government should be guided by majority rule. He also thinks that government exists to protect the unalienable right to property. • Are these ideas in conflict? What if a poor majority wants to tax a rich minority?
Eudemonism (Gr. hedone pleasure) • The view that happiness is the highest good. • Some writers take this to designate the view that pleasure is the highest good, but that view is more properly called hedonism. • Happiness and pleasure are distinct notions.
Our Government and Justice • There are times when the only way to prevent harm to a large number of people is to harm a smaller number of people. Is it always permissible to harm a smaller number in order to prevent harm to a large number?
Suppose an American has planted a bomb in New York City, and it will explode in twenty-four hours unless the police are able to find it. Should it be legal for the police to use torture to extract information from the suspected bomber?
Suppose an American has planted a bomb in New York City, and it will explode in twenty-four hours unless the police are able to find it. Should it be legal for the police to use torture to extract information from the suspected bomber?
Today, freedom and equality are guaranteed for you and people of all races, religions, and genders, according to the laws of the United States. Every citizen is guaranteed equal and fair treatment under the laws and the freedom to openly express ideas. Every citizen is also guaranteed the right to vote.
However, this was not always the case. When the Declaration of Independence was written, only white males who owned property could vote.
Discussing Inequalities • In pairs, research where we still find inequalities or injustices today. Look beyond the borders of the U.S. perhaps. • Place your findings on Google Slides • We will share our findings with the class.
Choose One Topic • After finding a topic, write it on the board to your right (reserve it). • Seven slides (minimum) • Title • Seven facts about your topic (minimum) (10 points) • Three related images (5 points) • Three questions for the class (5 points) • Works Cited page (10 points)
