The Declaration of Independence and its Legacy (930)

Instructions:

Read the slides, then answer the questions on the following slides.

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How did the Declaration of Independence change our history and the history of others?

The Declaration of Independence and its Legacy

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​The moment had finally come. Too much had happened between the colonial leaders and the British crown to go back. More and more colonists felt deprived by the British not only of their money and their liberties, but their lives as well. Bloodshed had begun over a year ago in 1775 in the Revolutionary War. There seemed little chance of a ceasefire.  

It was time for a formal break with England and time to declare independence.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following reasons pushed the colonists to want to break away from Britain?

• Colonists felt their money and liberties were being taken away. The British had also killed colonists

• The British drank all of the colonists tea

• The colonists wanted to invest in crypto currency

• The British lost to the French in the 7 years war

On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution to the Continental Congress that declared the 13 colonies "free and independent states." Congress did not act on the resolution immediately. A vote was set for early July.

In the meantime it seemed appropriate to explain such a bold act. A committee including Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson was selected to choose the careful wording. Such a document must be persuasive to many parties.

​Benjamin Franklin

Fill in the Blanks

Americans might read it and join the patriot cause. Sympathetic Britons would read it and might urge calm from their king. Other countries would read it and maybe aid the U.S. colonial military. They might, that is, if the words were convincing. Committee members agreed that Jefferson was the best writer. The others would advise him.

​Benjamin Franklin

Multiple Select

Which of the following could happen if the Declaration of Independence was worded well?

• More colonists would join the cause

• Sympathetic Britons would might urge action from their king.

• Other countries would read it and maybe aid the U.S. colonial military

• Mr. Fuss would assist in helping the patriots

How the declaration was laid out

The declaration is divided into three main parts. The first is a simple statement of intent. Jefferson's words echo even today. Phrases like "all men are created equal" and "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" have come from the lips of Americans of all ages. They are in the first section that outlines the principles of the leaders. 

Civics is super kewl

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the first section of the Declaration of Independence?

• The introduction

• statement of intent

• lists grievances

How the declaration was laid out

The next section is a list of injustices, the reasons the colonies thought independence was necessary. King George III was guilty of "repeated injuries" that intended to establish "tyranny" in North America. He had "plundered our seas, burned our towns and destroyed the lives of our people." 

Civics is super kewl

Multiple Choice

The next section of the "Declaration of Independence" lists "injustices" done by the king. Another word for "injustices" similar to complaints would be...

• Grievances

• Grievous

• errors

• independence

How the declaration was laid out

The final paragraph officially ended ties with Britain. It also shows today's readers the courage of each delegate who signed. They were now officially guilty of treason and would be sentenced to hang if taken before a royal court.

Civics is super kewl

Fill in the Blanks

How the declaration was laid out

Debate in the Congress followed, and Jefferson watched painfully as the other delegates tweaked his writing. Finally on July 4, 1776, the colonies approved the document. The vote was 12-0, with the New York delegation abstaining from the vote. As president of the Congress, John Hancock scrawled his famous signature across the bottom and history was made. If the American effort was successful, they would be hailed as heroes, and if it failed, they would be hanged as traitors.

Civics is super kewl

Multiple Choice

Which state abstained from voting for the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776?

• Virginia

• New Jersey

• New York

• North Carolina

The importance of the declaration

Why was the Declaration of Independence so special? Why do Americans continue to celebrate its announcement as the birthday of the United States, July 4, 1776? While that date might just mean fireworks to some today, what did the declaration mean when it was written in 1776?

For one thing, the declaration was a legal document. It announced to the world the reasons that led the 13 colonies to separate from the British Empire.

Civics is super kewl

Multiple Select

Which photos or gifs best represents the 4th of July?

The importance of the declaration

The declaration was not only legalistic, but practical too. Americans hoped to get money or military support from other countries that were traditional enemies of the British. However, these practical purposes are not why the declaration is remembered today as an expression of the ideals of the American Revolution.

Civics is super kewl

Multiple Choice

Who did Americans hope to get help from after declaring independence?

• China and North Korea

• traditional enemies of the British

• Mexico

• Mr. Fuss' Civics classes

The importance of the declaration

The declaration's most famous sentence reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Civics is super kewl

Multiple Choice

Which word fits in the blank? "We hold these truths to be ________, that all men are created equal..."

• declaration

• self-evident

• inalienable

• rights

How the declaration influenced history

This ideal of equality has influenced American history. Women's rights activists at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848 wrote their "Declaration of Sentiments" in the same terms as the Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident," they said, "that all men and women are created equal." Similarly, the African-American anti-slavery activist David Walker challenged white Americans in 1829 to "See your Declaration Americans!!! Do you understand your own language?" Walker dared America to live up to its self-proclaimed ideals, asking, if all men were created equal, then why was slavery legal?

Civics is super kewl

Multiple Choice

From the previous slide, which two groups have discussed the Declaration of Independence's hypocrisy?

• U.S. Farmers & children

• Asian Americans & Hispanic Americans

• Women and Black Americans

• Black Americans and High School teachers

How the declaration influenced history

Jefferson is an example of the contradictions of the time. Although he was the chief author of the declaration, he also owned slaves, as did many of his fellow signers. They did not see full equality as a positive goal. Nevertheless, Jefferson was prepared to criticize the slave trade more than most of his fellow leaders. His original draft of the declaration included a passage that blamed King George for allowing the slave trade to flourish. This part was deleted by a vote of the Continental Congress.

Civics is super kewl

​Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings - Jefferson had children with Ms. Hemings, yet kept them as enslaved rather than freeing them.

Multiple Choice

Which portion of the Declaration of Independence was deleted by the other delegates?

• Portion on grievances about the King

• Portion on taxes

• Portion on slavery

An extreme statement for its time

The signers of the declaration described how Americans would relate to their government. The declaration suggests that the purpose of government is to secure the people's rights and that government gets its power from the consent of the people. It goes on to say that if that consent is betrayed, it is the right of the people to alter or end their government. 

Civics is super kewl

Multiple Choice

The Declaration of Independence states government gets its power from the people, that people have rights, and...

• people can end their government if necessary

• People can choose their own mascot for the country

• people only have rights as listed by the King

An extreme statement for its time

When the declaration was written, this was an extreme statement. The idea that the people could dismiss a leadership based on the power of a king and replace it with a government based on the consent of the people was revolutionary.

The signers thought of "the people" mostly as being white males. However, they stated principles that are still American ideals.

Civics is super kewl

Multiple Choice

While revolutionary for its time, the Declaration of Independence was initially only for...

• immigrants

• British subjects loyal to the king

• White males who had wealth

• women and people of color