1. The Declaration of Independence
Sit in a group of 3 or 4

2. Declaration of Independence
Objective: Students will understand the origins and text of the Declaration of Independence and determine its legacy today.
Today’s Essential Question: What were the central ideas of the Declaration of Independence?

3. What does the 4th of July mean to YOU?
Opener Question
What does the 4th of July mean to YOU?

4. John Locke
The works of John Locke (1632–1704), well-known English political philosopher, provided many Americans with the philosophical arguments for inalienable natural rights, principally those of property and of rebellion against abusive governments.

5. George Mason
A call for American independence from Britain, the Virginia Declaration of Rights was drafted by George Mason in May 1776.
Thomas Jefferson drew heavily from it when he drafted the Declaration of Independence
It was also used by James Madison in drawing up the Bill of Rights (1789).

6. Declaration of Independence Parts
Preamble (#1)
Part 1 – Natural Rights of Man (#2)
Part 2 – List of Grievances (#3)
Part 3 – Announcement of Separation (#4-5)

7. Declaration of Independence Graphic Organizer
Person A = Preamble
Determine the two points of the Preamble (Section #1)
Identify the “Committee of Five” & the significance of July 2nd and July 4th
Person B = Part 1
Identify 4 central ideas from the Natural Rights of Man (Section #2).
Person C = Part 2
Determine the main point of the Lists of Grievances and their 3 specific parts (Section #3).
Person D = Part 3
Determine 3 central ideas of the Announcement of Separation (Sections #4-5)

8. Preamble Introduction
The colonists feel that they must explain to the world the reasons why they are separating from Britain.

9. Part One: The Natural Rights of Man
There are rights that belong to all people at birth
“Unalienable rights”= rights that can’t be taken away
“All men are created equal” & “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
People set up governments to protect these rights. People can change the government if it isn’t protecting them.

10. Part Two: List of Grievances
A list of the 27 wrongs done to the colonies by the British government
Divided into three sets:
- King’s abuse of power
- Unjust acts of Parliament/British Government
- Warlike actions of the king

11. Part Three – Announcement of Separation
As representatives of the U.S., they declare that they are free and independent states
No longer loyal to the king
The signers promise their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.”

12. Declaration of Independence Facts
Committee of Five:
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin
Robert Livingston
Roger Sherman
John Adams
July 2nd: Voted to be independent
July 4th: Adopted the document (DOI)

13. Frederick Douglass
What is Douglass saying concerning African Americans in relation to the Declaration of Independence?

14. Abigail Adams and the Declaration of Independence
Why doesn’t the Declaration of Independence address women’s issues discussed in Abigail Adams’s letter?