Enough Already! The Story of the Declaration of Independence 4th Grade Social Studies Lab

Why take risks? Essential Question

The Colonies in 1775 How many colonies are there in 1775? Source: The National Archives, Records of Boundary and Claims Commissions and Arbitrations, Record Group 76. https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/annotated-map-of-the- british-colonies-in-north-america-with-the-roads-distances-limits-and-extent- of-the-settlements

From British to American Different Perspectives

The Stamp Act Denounced What do you see? What do you think you know? What are you curious about? Why did colonists dislike the Stamp Act? Why did King George III approve it?   Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://www.loc.gov/item/2006679820/

The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor by N. Currier, 1846 What people do you see? What objects do you see? What is happening in this image? How do you know? Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA; https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b52022/

The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street, Boston, 3/05/1770 What is happening in this picture? Who created it? Is it a true depiction of the events? Why was it created? Who was the audience? Source: The National Archives, Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Record Group 111. https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/the- bloody-massacre-perpetrated-in-king-street-boston

Do you think they collaborated or did one person’s ideas always win? Drafting the Declaration of Independence. The Committee - Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Livingston and Sherman. 1776. Who are these men? Where are they from? Why were they chosen? Do you think they collaborated or did one person’s ideas always win? Source: National Archives, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/drafting-the- declaration-of-independence-the-committee-franklin-jefferson-adams- livingston-and-sherman-copy-of-engraving-after-alonzo-chappel

The Original Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence How is this like the writing process you follow? Does it seem like there were many changes in this document or just a few? Can you tell who wrote what? How do you know? Thomas Jefferson wrote: “We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable.” Benjamin Franklin crossed Jefferson’s words out and wrote “We hold these truths to be self- evident”? Can you use that information to determine who wrote what? Page 1 of the original draft of the Declaration of Independence. All five pages can be accessed at this link: https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/tr00.html  To zoom in on the document…https://www.loc.gov/resource/mtj1.001_0545_0548/?sp=1

Declaration of Independence, 7/4/1776 Paragraph #1 Why was this written? Natural/Unalienable rights The king is a tyrant. We are free and independent states. Source: National Archives, Dunlap Broadside [Declaration of Independence]; 7/4/1776; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360. https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/dunlap-broadside-[declaration-of-independence]; Transcript available at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

What do you think is happening? Do the people look happy or troubled? Reading of the Declaration of Independence from the East Balcony of the Old State House, Boston, Massachusetts July 18, 1776 What do you see? What do you think is happening? Do the people look happy or troubled? Can you guess what the people in the picture do for a living? Source: National Archives, Reading of the Declaration of Independence from the East balcony of the Old State House, Boston, Massachusetts July 18, 1776. Copy of artwork.,; 1931 - 1932 ; Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch, Record Group 148. https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/reading-of-the-declaration-of-independence-from-the-east-balcony-of-the-old-state-house-boston-massachusetts-july-18-1776-copy-of-artwork

The Declaration of Independence. 1776 The Declaration of Independence. 1776. Copy of painting by John Trumbull, 1817-18. What people do you see? What objects do you see? What do you think you know? What are you still curious about? Source: The Declaration of Independence. 1776. Copy of painting by John Trumbull, 1817-18.; 1931 - 1932; Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch, Record Group 148. https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/the-declaration-of-independence-1776- copy-of-painting-by-john-trumbull-181718