Declaration of Independence Activity
As you go through this activity, write down the number and answer to the following question on a separate sheet of paper. ALL answers should be in COMPLETE sentences. Text that is red will lead you to a website when you click it.
Step 1: The Declaration of Independence
Using this website, read the 3rd paragraph and answer the following question:
1. What are the three main parts of the Declaration of Independence?
2. Which part do you believe is the most important? Why?
1. What are the three main parts of the Declaration of Independence?
2. Which part do you believe is the most important? Why?
Step 2: Inspirations
3. How did John Locke inspire the Declaration of Independence? Look under "Influences on Jefferson's Writing"
Thomas Paine inspired the Declaration of Independence.
4. What were his two main points in "Common Sense"?
5. What questions did he ask people at the end of "Common Sense"? (look at the last paragraph)
4. What were his two main points in "Common Sense"?
5. What questions did he ask people at the end of "Common Sense"? (look at the last paragraph)
Step 3: Analysis
Read the following quote and answer the question that follows:
But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young; nor savages make war upon their families…Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every Part of Europe. -- From Common Sense, 1776
6. Who does Thomas Paine argue is the "parent" of the colonies? Do you agree?
But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young; nor savages make war upon their families…Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every Part of Europe. -- From Common Sense, 1776
6. Who does Thomas Paine argue is the "parent" of the colonies? Do you agree?
Step 4: Grievances
Go to this website and look at the grievances - Focus only on #11, 14, 17, 23.
7. Which grievance do you believe was the worst?
7. Which grievance do you believe was the worst?
Step 5: Analyzing Media
Watch the following video, and answer the questions: (The men in the video represent John Adams and Ben Franklin(seated with glasses on) and Thomas Jefferson (purple-ish overcoat and red-ish hair)
8. What is the purpose of Adams and Franklin's light criticism of the Declaration?
9 Does Thomas Jefferson seem to be comfortable with the changes they are making?
10. Why would Jefferson feel this way?
Watch the following video, and answer the questions: (The men in the video represent John Adams and Ben Franklin(seated with glasses on) and Thomas Jefferson (purple-ish overcoat and red-ish hair)
8. What is the purpose of Adams and Franklin's light criticism of the Declaration?
9 Does Thomas Jefferson seem to be comfortable with the changes they are making?
10. Why would Jefferson feel this way?