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This section has part of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. If you want to see the whole documents, check out the National Archives and Records Administration: http://www.nara.gov. |
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Many people who lived in the Colonies were happy to be British subjects. They did not want to form their own country. Some of those people, known as Tories, stayed loyal to the British King even during the war.
Other colonists, called Patriots, came to feel that the leaders back in Great Britain did not really understand what the Colonists needed and were not interested in listening.
People like slaves and Native Americans, who lived in the Colonies but without any rights, listened to Patriots and Tories talk about what was and wasn't fair. They had their own cultures and beliefs about freedom and citizenship, yet many of them also were drawn into the battle. They chose sides according to whom they thought would be most fair to them.
The Patriots' ideas about liberty and how a country should be run were so powerful, they have influenced people's ideas about freedom and government all over the world. You can find out what those special ideas were by looking at the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. This section is a challenge. It has some language that you might not understand at first. If you still have questions when you are done, ask a grown up, or look for more information at your local library.
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Liberty's Kids® ©2004 DIC Entertainment. All rights reserved.
Funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
through funds from the U.S. Department of Education.
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