Explain how the Declaration of Independence and Treaty of Alliance (1778) between the United States (13 Colonies) and France provided a morale and military boost to the Americans during the Revolutionary War.
**Response must be Two Paragraphs in length 5-6 sentences per paragraph**
SOURCE 1 – Declaration of Independence (Abbreviated)
Preamble
“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.”
Declaration of Natural Rights
“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…”
Declaration of Natural Rights
“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 affect their Safety and Happiness. “
List of Grievances
No representation in Parliament
British soldiers in colonies without permission
Quartering British troops
Not punishing the troops that harm colonists
Cutting off trade to the colonies with the rest of the world
Taxing the colonists without their consent
No trial by jury
Judges dependent on King
“Destroyed the lives of our people”
Resolution of Independence
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America… solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States…
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.”
SOURCE 2 – TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES & FRANCE (Abbreviated)
ART. 1.
If War should break out between France and Great Britain, during the continuance of the present War between the United States and England, his Majesty and the said United States, shall make it a common cause... as becomes good & faithful Allies.
ART. 2.
The essential and direct End of the present defensive alliance is to maintain e0ectually the liberty, Sovereignty, and independence absolute and unlimited of the said United States.
ART. 3.
The two contracting Parties shall each on its own Part, and in the manner it may judge most proper, make all the e0orts in its Power, against their common Enemy, in order to attain the end proposed.
ART. 8.
Neither of the two Parties shall conclude either Truce or Peace with Great Britain, without the formal consent of the other 2rst obtain'd; and they mutually engage not to lay down their arms, until the Independence of the United States shall have been formally or tacitly assured by the Treaty or Treaties that shall terminate the War.
ART. 11.
The two Parties guarantee mutually from the present time and forever, against all other powers... their liberty, Sovereignty, and Independence absolute, and unlimited,.
