Social Studies Chapter 2 Declaration of Independence… Lesson 1

Declaration of Independence Vocabulary Declaration – a statement that declares, or announces an idea. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence announced the American Colonies’ overthrow of British rule.

Every person has rights. Freedoms that are protected by a government’s laws. Every person has rights. The Declaration of Independence outlines these rights. The United States Constitution protects these freedoms.

A change to the Constitution. Amendment A change to the Constitution. The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights. They protect the rights of the people of the United States.

Responsibility A duty that someone is expected to fulfill. Americans have many rights. They also have a responsibility to follow the laws of the United States.

Declaration of Independence You may have a birth certificate at home. This paper tells when you were born. In a way, our country has a birth certificate and it’s called the Declaration of Independence. This declaration marks the beginning of the United States. (Think of the Declaration of Independence as our country’s birth certificate.)

Main Idea of the Declaration of Independence Declares our independence from Great Britain. Explains why the colonies should be free.

Parts of the Declaration: The first part begins with a promise to explain why the colonies must break away from Britain. P.R2-R5

Parts of the Declaration Cont… The next section explains that people have rights that cannot be taken away. “All men are created equal” P.R2-R5

Parts of the Declaration Cont… The next section is the longest section. It is a list of complaints against the king. Charges Against the King! He has refused to give his consent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for public good! He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance… P. R2-R5

Parts of the Declaration Cont… The last section argues that the colonies have to be free to protect the colonists’ rights. P. R2-R5 “We WILL be independent!”

Parts of the Declaration Cont… At the bottom of the document, delegates to congress signed their names. John Hancock, President of Congress signed his name in large letters. John Hancock

Date the Declaration was signed July 4, 1776 What do you do to celebrate Independence Day every year? What is another name for Independence Day?

Question… According to the Declaration of Independence, why did the colonies have the right to their own government?

Answer… Colonists have the right to their own government because everyone has certain rights, and Britain tried to take them away.

Why was the Declaration of Independence written? Question… Why was the Declaration of Independence written?

Answer… Americans needed a document to declare why the colonies had to become independent of Britain.

Question… What rights did Thomas Jefferson write about in the Declaration of Independence?

Answer… The right to live (Life) The right to be free (Liberty) The right to seek happiness (Pursuit of happiness)

Ech hum…Did You Know? Adding the suffix – tion to a verb, adds “the action of” to the verb’s meaning. To declare means to make known officially, so declaration is the act of making something known officially.

Importance of the Declaration of Independence Main Idea: The Declaration of Independence establishes basic ideas of freedom and equality.

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson argued that a government should protect the rights of its citizens! He also argued that if the government does NOT protect the citizens’ rights, then the people have the right to start a new government! Go Thomas Jefferson!!!

Where did Jefferson get these ideas? He used ideas that John Locke and other English thinkers had written about. Locke said that governments should SERVE their people! Jefferson listed many ways that Britain did NOT serve the colonists.

Question… Whose ideas formed the basis for the ideas stated in the Declaration of Independence?

Answer… John Locke

Question… When Thomas Jefferson wrote that “all men are created equal,” was he referring to all citizens?

Thomas Jefferson was referring to white men only. Answer… NO! Thomas Jefferson was referring to white men only. (What’s up with that?!)

Question… How are Thomas Jefferson’s words interpreted differently today than in 1776?

Answer… Today, “all men” refers to ALL CITIZENS, men and women of ALL races and ALL groups.

Hmm… Let’s Think… What people have worked to gain rights since the writing of the Declaration of Independence?

Just to Name a Few… Women African Americans American Indians

The Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776. Equality Then and Now The Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776. Today we know that Jefferson’s words, “all men created equal,” includes everyone: women as well as men, every race, every group, every ability.

Question… Why is the Declaration of Independence still so important to Americans?

Answer… The Declaration of Independence says EVERY American has the SAME rights! Whoo hoo!!!

Lesson Summary The Colonists decided to declare their independence from Britain. Congress asked Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence states that EVERYONE has certain rights that NO government can take away!

Lesson 1 Review Who did congress ask to write the Declaration of Independence? Why did Colonists want independence from Britain? Why did Jefferson believe the Colonists had the right to declare independence? What is one reason the Declaration gives for independence?