037 Author of, Who Signed, and Why Declaration of Independence Important

For this 4th of July, I explain why the Declaration of Independence is important, the author of, and who signed the Declaration of Independence.

• We are discussing today:

  • 4th of july meaning today

  • declaration of independence

  • revolutionary war

  • sons of liberty

  • liberty bell

Housekeeping:

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News Segment by J.Bradbury of PreparePDX.com:

• Iraq News: Oil Refinery

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• New Batteries

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Discussion:

1. What 4th of July Means to People today

   1. Summer

   2. BBQ

   3. Beer

   4. Parades

   5. Fireworks

2. We have let our family gatherings and cookouts get in the way of our Independence Day knowledge.

3. How Schools have taught Independence Day

   1. Revolution was declared against the British

   2. On July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed

   3. There was a celebration where the Liberty Bell got cracked from getting his so hard

4. What is the Declaration of Independence

   1. 

      Click to Enlarge

      It is a document signed by our local governing body that was done so to explain to the British King that we were tired of the British government overstepping its bounds and consistently overtaxing the people.

   2. The first rough draft was written in the Green Dragon Tavern over a mug of ale.

   3. This was the same as the Boston Tea Party

5. The Men / Signers of the Declaration of Independence

   1. Men were revolters

   2. Not considered stand up people

   3. They were felons, traitors

   4. Men of power and courage

      1. Signed the DOI

6. 

   1. April 1775, war declared on Great Britain

   2. The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

      1. April 18th 1775

      2. Part of a planned early warning system

         1. One by land and Two by sea – north church steeple

            1. To Ride to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams

         2. Revere was caught off-guard

         3. Then he rode, stopping at houses on his way to Lexington

         4. Got to Adams and Hancock

         5. Joined by rider William Dawes

            1. Continued on to Concord

               1. Hidden ammunition for continental army

            2. Joined by Samuel Prescott

            3. Intercepted by British battalion and all three arrested

   3. Impressive turnout for war

   4. People realized the length of it

      1. Started waning off

   5. Late 1776, Colonies began cash incentives

   6. In 1778 started drafting

   7. Many Americans (15-20%) Crown Loyalists, fought as a red coat

   8. Native Americans were fighting on both sides

      1. In Peace of Paris Treaty, the Crown Natives lost their land

      2. The others made out better initially, but ultimately lost theirs as well

      3. The entire reason why they fought with the Brits was because they wanted to save their land.

   9. 1781, war was unofficially over

   10. 1783 War was officially over when peace treaty was signed.

7. The liberty bell was not broken by the 4th of July celebration in 1777.

   1. Improperly cast

   2. Broken, recast, and broken several times

   3. Bell was intact during the war

   4. Wasn’t rang on the 4th

   5. Was rang when the DOI was read aloud

8. Declaration of independence

   1. Signing is why we celebrate the 4th

   2. First draft written by Thomas Jefferson in Green Dragon.

   3. Dependence was actually declared on July 2nd, 1776

      1. DOI still draft, signed only by John Hancock and Charles Thompson

         1. Congressional Leader and Secretary of congress

      2. John Adams wrote to wife Abigail predicting July 2nd would be a holiday.

   4. Read aloud in the city on July 8th

      1. Play the clip

   5. Finally Signed Aug 2, 1776

   6. Delivered to Great Britain that following November

   7. Why the 4th

      1. That was the day congress stopped hashing out the draft that was submitted on the 2nd

      2. They agreed to the wording

      3. This date was on the newest revision that was signed in august.

      4. Wasn’t a national holiday until 1870 (century later)

9. Story of the 4th of July is this:

   1. Bunch of guys ticked off at government

      1. High taxes

      2. Removal of liberties

      3. Tyrannical rule

   2. They declared war against the crown and their independence

   3. Later, in writing, they gave us our rights to protect us from tyranny

10. In celebration

    1. Remember the traitors

       1. Sick of tyranny

       2. Sick of taxes

       3. Sick of their rights being taken

       4. Way handicapped in numbers

       5. Decided to fight back the government for rights

    2. Teach this story to your family

We can learn a thing or two from the “Sons of Liberty.”  Here are a couple Youtube videos that I showed my children when teaching them about the DOI: