1. What do you see? What do you think this means?
Warm Up:
What do you see? What do you think this means?

2. Would you sign the Declaration of Independence?
Today’s Question:
Would you sign the Declaration of Independence?

3. Agenda:
Notes/video clips: Events leading to the Declaration of Independence
In groups: Read part of the Declaration, discuss what is means
Whole group: Shared read of Declaration
Letter: Should the representatives sign the Declaration?

4. Events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence:
1763: French and Indian War ends 1763 (October): Proclamation of 1763 is passed. 1765: Stamp Act 1770: Boston Massacre 1773: Boston Tea Party 1774 (January): Intolerable Acts 1774 (September): First Continental Congress 1775 (March): Patrick Henry delivers speech 1775 (April): Battle of Lexington and Concord 1775 (May): 2nd Continental Congress

5. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” Virginia, 1775
What is the main point of Patrick Henry’s speech?
How will patriots react?
How will the loyalists and British react?

6. Second Continental Congress: May of 1775

7. John Adam’s speech to the Continental Congress:
What does John Adams think the Continental Congress should do?
Do you think he will convince them?

8. The Committee of Five Ben Franklin Thomas Jefferson Robert Livingston
Roger
Sherman
John
Adams

9. Declaration of Independence https://www. youtube. com/watch
The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to tell the world that the colonies were breaking away from __________ __________. In the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson wrote about the problems with King __________ government, and the type of government he wanted for the new country. Many of Jefferson’s ideas on government were taken from the writings of_____________ philosophers. Several groups of people were excluded from the rights guaranteed in the declaration, including ____________ and ____________ ______________.

10. In your group: Read your section of the Declaration of Independence
With your group, write a three sentence summary of your section to present to Congress
Decide on one representative in your group to read your section to the Continental Congress (and take time to practice!)

11. Shared Read:
One representative from each group will read their section of the Declaration.
Follow along as the representative is reading.
When Thomas Jefferson raises his hand, everybody read together.

12. Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams:
“The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable [day] in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by [future] generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be [celebrated] with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever.”
–Adams wrote this in a letter to his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776

14. Letter:
On the left side of your notebook, write a letter from a member of the Continental Congress to the people living in the colonies. In your letter, explain what the Declaration of Independence is and why they should support it. Give specific reasons to support your position.

15. Listen closely and underline lyrics that you know the meaning of!
You’ll Be Back
Listen closely and underline lyrics that you know the meaning of!