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Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Initial Examination

1. Write down key points and things you notice about the document.

2. Write down any questions that come to mind as you look at the document.

3. Is the document easy to read? What is different about the text, font and spelling of the words

in the document?

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Part I — Preamble:

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve thepolitical bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powersof the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’sGod entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they shoulddeclare the causes which impel them to the separation.

questions:

1. According to this paragraph what is the goal of the writers?

2.Why are they writing this document?

3. Make a prediction of what will come next in the document based on what you have read in the“Preamble.”

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Part II — Beliefs:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they areendowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Lifr,Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments areinstituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --Thatwhenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of thePeople to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation onsuch principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely toeffect their Safety and Happiness. . .The history of the present King of Great Britain is ahistory of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment ofan absolute Tyranny over these States.

Ouestions:

1. What rights are the writers claiming that they have?

2. According to this paragraph, what is the purpose of the government?

Part III — Complaints

To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.1, He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless

suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he hasutterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unlessthose people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimableto them and formidable to tyrants only.1. He has called together legislative bodies atplaces unusual, uncomfortable, and distantfromthe depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose offatiguing them into compliancewith his measures.1. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with inanlyfirinness hisinvasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby theLegislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for theirexercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion fromwithout, and convulsions within.He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing theLaws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrationshither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishingJudiciary powers.2. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and theamount andpayment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass ourpeople, and eat out their substance.2. ff~ has kept among us, in tinies ofpeace, Standing Armies without the Consent ofourlegislatures.2. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil powei~He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, andunacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:3. For Quartering large bodies ofarmed troops among us:~ protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they shouldcommit on the Inhabitants of these States:3. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:3. For imposing Taxes on us without our ~‘onsent:4. ~ depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Juzy:4. For transporting us beyond Seas to be triedfor pretended offences.For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing thereinan Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example andfit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:4. ~ taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and alteringfundamentally the Forms ofour Governments:~ suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate

for us in all cases whatsoever.5. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out ofhis Protection and waging Waragainst us.5. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed die lives ofourpeople.i~ is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works ofdeath, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcelyparalleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.j~ has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against theirCountry, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by theirHands.5. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on dieinhabitants ofour frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule ofwarfare is anundistinguished destruction ofall ages, sexes and conditions.

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Grievances: Group 1Directions:1. Read the complaints assigned to your group.2. Discuss each complaint with your group, and then answer the questions below.3. Select recorder, readers (2-3), and a presenter.A recorder writes up the notes from the group discussion and hands them to the presenter. (Group shoulddiscuss notes before being presented.)The readers read the original complaints aloud to the class.The presenter will read the groups responses to the class.All members of the group will participate and give their ideas as the group discusses the complaints.

To Prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

ft~ has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

ff~ has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant fromthe depository of their public Records,for the sole purpose offatiguing them into compliancewith his measures.

ftc has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness hisinvasions on the rights of the people.

Questions:1. What is each complaint about? Write a brief description of each complaint in your own words.

2. Who is “He” that the colonists refer to in the grievances?

3. Who are the colonists blaming for their grievances? Why do you think they are blaming him?

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Grievances: Group 2Directions:1. Read the complaints assigned to your group.2. Discuss each complaint with your group, and then answer the questions below.3. Select recorder, readers (2-3), and a presenter.A recorder writes up the notes from the group discussion and hands them to the presenter.(Group should discuss notes before being presented.)The readers read the original complaints aloud to the class.The presenter will read the groups responses to the class.All members of the group will participate and give their ideas as the group discusses thecomplaints.

To Prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone,for the tenure of their offices, and theamount andpayment of their salaries.

~ has kept among us, in times ofpeace, Standing Armies without the consent of ourlegislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

Questions;1. What is each complaint about? Write a brief description of each complaint in your own words.

2. Who is “He” that the colonists refer to in the grievances?

3. Who are the colonists blaming for their grievances? Why do you think they are blaming him?

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Grievances: Group 3

Directions:1. Read the complaints assigned to your group.2. Discuss each complaint with your group, and then answer the questions below.3. Select recorder, readers (2-3), and a presenter.A recorder writes up the notes from the group discussion and hands them to the presenter.(Group should discuss notes before being presented.)The readers read the original complaints aloud to the class.The presenter will read the groups responses to the class.All members of the group will participate and give their ideas as the group discusses thecomplaints.

To Prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

ff~ has combined with others to subject us.. to their Acts ofpretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our consent:

Questions:1. What is each complaint about? Write a brief description of each complaint in your own words.

2. Who is “He” that the colonists refer to in the grievances?

3. Who are the colonists blaming for their grievances? Why do you think they are blaming him?

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Grievances: Group 4

Directions:1. Read the complaints assigned to your group.2. Discuss each complaint with your group, and then answer the questions below.3. Select recorder, readers (2-3), and a presenter.A recorder writes up the notes from the group discussion and hands them to the presenter.(Group should discuss notes before being presented.)The readers read the original complaints aloud to the class.The presenter will read the groups responses to the class.All members of the group will participate and give their ideas as the group discusses thecomplaints.

To Prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has combined with others to subject us.. .to their Acts ofpretended legislation:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be triedfor pretended offences

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentallythe Forms of our Governments:

Questions:1. What is each complaint about? Write a brief description of each complaint in your own words.

2. Who is “He” that the colonists refer to in the grievances?

3. Who are the colonists blaming for their grievances? Why do you think they are blaming him?

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Grievances: Group 5

Directions:1. Read the complaints assigned to your group.2. Discuss each complaint with your group, and then answer the questions below.3. Select recorder, readers (2-3), and a presenter.A recorder writes up the notes from the group discussion and hands them to the presenter.(Group should discuss notes before being presented.)The readers read the original complaints aloud to the class.The presenter will read the groups responses to the class.All members of the group will participate and give their ideas as the group discusses thecomplaints.

To Prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging waragainst us.

& has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of ourpeople.

He has excited domestic insurrection amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on theinhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is anundistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions.

Questions:1. What is each complaint about? Write a brief description of each complaint in your own words.

2. Who is “He” that the colonists refer to in the grievances?

3. Who are the colonists blaming for their grievances? Why do you think they are blaming him?

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Part IV — Attempts to Address Grievances

In every stage of these Oppressions, We have petitioned for Redress in the most humbleterms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince,whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be theruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned themfrom time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdictionover us. ~ have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlementhere. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and have conjured them bythe ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interruptour connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and ofconsanguinity. ~ must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces ourSeparation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in PeaceFriends.

Ouestions:

How did the colonists try to address these grievances earlier?

Why did they feel it was necessary to state this in the Declaration?

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Part V — Declaring Independence

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 publishand declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free andIndependent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, andthat all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to betotally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levyWar, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts andThings 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 eachother our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Ouestions:

What words from this paragraph actually declare the colonists’ independence?

What rights and powers do they state that they now have?

Student Activity Sheet: Investigating the Declaration of Independence

Part VI — The Signatures:

There were 56 signatures on the Declaration.

Column 1 Column 4 Column 6Georgia: Pennsylvania: New Hampshire:Button Gwinnett Robert Morris Josiah BartlettLyman Hall Benjamin Rush William WhippleGeorge Walton Benjamin Franklin Massachusetts:

John Morton Samuel AdamsColumn 2 George Clymer John AdamsNorth Carolina: James Smith Robert Treat PaineWilliam Hooper George Taylor Elbridge GerryJoseph Hewes James Wilson Rhode Island:John Penn George Ross Stephen HopkinsSouth Carolina: Delaware: William ElleryEdward Rutledge Caesar Rodney Connecticut:Thomas Heyward, Jr. George Read Roger ShermanThomas Lynch, Jr. Thomas McKean Samuel HuntingtonArthur Middleton William Williams

Oliver WolcottColumn 3 ColumnS New Hampshire:Massachusetts: New York: Matthew ThorntonJohn Hancock William FloydMaryland: Philip LivingstonSamuel Chase Francis LewisWilliam Paca Lewis MorrisThomas Stone New Jersey:Charles Carroll of Carrollton Richard StocktonVirginia: John WitherspoonGeorge Wythe Francis HopkinsonRichard Henry Lee John HartThomas Jefferson Abraham ClarkBenjamin HarrisonThomas Nelson, Jr.Francis Lightfoot LeeCarter Braxton

Questions:Which names on the list of signatures do you recognize? Circle the names that you recognize.

Would you have signed the document? Why or why not?

What might have happened if the Americans had lost the war against Britain?

What were the risks associated with writing and signing the document?