1. AP Declaration of Independence Guided Reading

2. Historical Context
In 1773, the 13 colonies were a rather happy place. They were prosperous, content, and still felt connected to the British Empire. However, in just a few short years all of this would change.
During the years of 1773 through 1776, the 13 colonies became more unhappy with the British Empire. They felt unfairly taxed, heavily monitored, and ignored when problems were presented. As these problems became more obvious, deeper issues, such as political differences, came to light. The two sides became more confrontational, and the 13 colonies were ready to declare themselves free from the British Empire.

3. Historical Context Continued
In 1774, the Continental Congress was formed. The group sent a list to King George III declaring their grievances with England. This list was ignored, so they sent a second list. When the second list was again ignored, the colonists decided to rebel and declare their independence. Five people were appointed to write the Declaration of Independence, the document that established the United States as a nation. Although Thomas Jefferson was the main writer of the document, he showed several drafts to Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston before the final draft was presented.
On July 4, 1776, the 56 delegates officially signed the Declaration of Independence, declaring themselves a new nation, the United States of America. Now that we have reviewed the events that led to its signing, we should discuss what exactly the document contained, and why its contents were important.

4. Author’s Purpose: Intent for the reader
The main purpose of the Declaration was to announce the colonies as separate from England. It outlines the principles that were the foundation for declaring independence. The Declaration of Independence consists of five parts: the introduction, the preamble, the indictment of King George III, the denunciation of the British Government, and the conclusion.

5. Check for understanding
What is the philosophical basis for Jefferson’s argument?
What is the relationship between the people and their government?
How does one demonstrate their relationship to the government?
Separate from the unalienable rights they have, what are the people entitled to as a governed body?
How does Jefferson use Ethos, Logos, and Pathos?
What, then, is the logical conclusion?
1. “all people are created equal and enjoy certain unalienable rights.”

6. In your notes…
At the time of the writing of The Declaration of Independence, England was one of the most powerful nations in the world.
Question: Evaluate the decision to abandon the ties to England’s economic power while simultaneously challenging its formidable military might.

7. Legislative, Judicial, Trade, Military
Categorize each grievance into one of the four categories (hint: some may be more than one)
Pick 4 to put into modern context
What would these grievances look like in 2017– obviously times are different, but are they, really? Try to paraphrase your grievances first, making sure you truly understand them. Then ponder the circumstances of those grievances in today’s world. Be sure to record in your notes your categories for each grievance, your paraphrase for your 4, and your modern context.
This did not save on the wiki—so we’ll do it today!

8. Reading Fluency
Parallel Structure: repetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us;
For protecting them, by a mock trial, for punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these States;
*Pausing between both statements adds both clarity and emphasis.
Practice saying the phrases to each other putting emphasis on different words!

9. Parallelism from the Greats
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.’
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.” –Martin Luther King Jr

10. Parallelism from the greats…
“My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.” - Barack Obama
_________________________________________________
“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” - John F. Kennedy

11. Conclusion
Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce
How is this statement rhetorically comprehensive? AKA, how does the above statement cover all kinds of actions that a free and independent state may do?
What other rhetorical strategies do you see used in the conclusion, or what is compelling about it?

12. Tuesday, November 7th ACT Warm Up: Identify the error
The geologist suggested that the imminent earthquake will cause minimal damage to the coastal region in the near future.
Error: The sentence is redundant; imminent means in the near future. Rewrite the sentence to eliminate redundancy.

13. Words and Figures of Speech
1. Look up unalienable (or inalienable) in a dictionary. Considering that the Declaration was addressed, in part, to a “foreign” tyrant, why might Jefferson have chosen this adjective (para. 2) instead of natural, God-given, or fundamental?
2. A proposition is a premise that is waiting to be approved. What single word signals us each time that Jefferson introduces a new proposition in his argument?
3. What example of metonymy can be found in paragraph 32?

14. Strategies and Structure
1. Jefferson gives the impression that the colonies are breaking away with extreme reluctance and only because of forces beyond any colonist’s personal power to overlook them. How does he create this impression?
5. Jefferson’s conclusion to this line of argument might be restated simply as, “King George is a tyrant.” We can take this conclusion as the minor premise of the underlying argument of the entire Declaration. If the major premise is “Tyrannical governments may be abolished by the People,” what is the conclusion of that underlying argument?