1. Declaration of Independence
* Key Leaders of the Time * People/Events * Significance to American Democracy
by Patricia McNair

2. STANDARDS ADDRESSED
4.28 Identify the people and events associated with the Declaration of Independence and cite evidence from the Declaration to determine its significance to the development of American Democracy.
4.29 Analyze the influences of key leaders during this period, including: Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Sam Adams, John Hancock, Benedict Arnold.
4.33 Write an opinion piece with supporting details contrasting how the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence clashed with the existence of slavery.
8.23 Determine the central ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence and write an expository piece in which the legacy of these ideas in today's world is described and validated with supporting evidence from the text.

3. What is the Declaration of Independence?
Click for Video (4:00)

5. Key Leaders of the Time Thomas Jefferson Benjamin Franklin
wrote the Declaration of Independence
Benjamin Franklin
edited the Declaration of Independence
John Hancock
was President of the Continental Congress & 1st to sign
John Adams
nominated Washington to be commander of Continental Army

6. People/Events Associated with the Declaration of Independence
Click for Video (4:00)

7. Taxes Stamp Act Townshend Acts Tea Act Intolerable Acts
Tax placed on all printed paper
Townshend Acts
Tax on imports of lead, glass, paint, paper and tea
Tea Act
Tax on tea
Intolerable Acts
Unfair trials, quartering act, king appoints governors for colonies

8. People Alexander Hamilton Samuel Adams Benedict Arnold Thomas Paine
Pushed for a centralized government with a capitalistic economy
Samuel Adams
One of the main forces behind the American Revolution
Benedict Arnold
Ex-Son of Liberty became a traitor and joined the British halfway through the war
Thomas Paine
Published Common Sense, a book that provoked Colonists to be free of a king
Click for Video (3:00)

9. Events Boston Massacre 1st Continental Congress
5 protesting Colonists killed by British soldiers
British soldiers go unpunished
1st Continental Congress
Delegates sent the “Declaration of Rights”
King George, III refused
2nd Continental Congress
Delegates sent the
“Olive Branch Petition” & created the “Declaration of Independence”

10. Major Components of Declaration of Independence
All men are created equal.
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.
Men are given by God certain unalienable rights.
“They are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

11. Major Components of Declaration of Independence
Governments derive their authority from the consent of the people.
“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
When a government abuses it’s power, the people have the right to overthrow it.
“That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…

12. How does the Declaration of Independence Impact the American Democracy?
Led to the democratic concept of political participation or the right to vote
Today, everyone who reaches 18 can vote.
Right to due process and a fair trial if convicted of a crime without taking away a person’s life, liberty, or property
Equality led to guaranteeing America’s children the right to a free public education.
Increased social participation led to increased liberty for minorities—women and slaves.
“The pursuit of happiness” led to free enterprise/capitalistic economy of today (buy and sell without government permission)

13. Teach your buddy what you just learned. Reverse.

14. ✓ Let’s see what you know.
Put your notes away and take out your Plickers. (

15. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
James Madison
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Samuel Adams

16. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
James Madison
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Samuel Adams

17. 2. Who was a traitor to the Sons of Liberty and the Patriots?
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin
John Hancock
Benedict Arnold

18. 2. Who was a traitor to the Sons of Liberty and the Patriots?
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Franklin
John Hancock
Benedict Arnold

19. 3. During which meeting with the delegates did they create the Declaration of Independence?
the American Revolution
the Trail of Tears
1st Continental Congress
2nd Continental Congress

20. 3. During which meeting with the delegates did they create the Declaration of Independence?
the American Revolution
the Trail of Tears
1st Continental Congress
2nd Continental Congress

21. 4. Who wrote a book called, Common Sense, that influenced a lot of the colonists to want independence from Britain?
Benedict Arnold
Samuel Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Paine

22. 4. Who wrote a book called, Common Sense, that influenced a lot of the colonists to want independence from Britain?
Benedict Arnold
Samuel Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Paine

23. 5. Which statement from the Declaration of Independence went against the existence of slavery?
When a government abuses it’s power, the people have the right to overthrow it.
All men are created equal.
Men are given by God certain unalienable rights.
Governments derive their authority from the consent of the people.

24. 5. Which statement from the Declaration of Independence went against the existence of slavery?
When a government abuses it’s power, the people have the right to overthrow it.
All men are created equal.
Men are given by God certain unalienable rights.
Governments derive their authority from the consent of the people.