What Did the Declaration of Independence Actually Declare?

Open Ended

Who are the colonists addressing this song towards? Think about the specific audience and why they chose to communicate this way.

Open Ended

Why is it 'too late to apologize'? What has Great Britain done that makes reconciliation impossible?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT one of the three essential parts of the Declaration of Independence?

• The Preamble

• The Grievances

• The Denunciation

• The Resolution

Multiple Choice

Which principles are described as 'self-evident truths' in the Declaration of Independence?

• Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness

• Freedom of Speech and Religion

• Equality before the law

• Right to bear arms

Open Ended

Explain the significance of 'unalienable rights' as described in the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence.

​Preamble

​Close Reading: What are the three unalienable rights, or rights that can’t be taken away or denied, listed in lines 12 and 13 of the preamble of the Declaration of Independence?

Analysis: The writers of the Declaration of Independence wrote that “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” [lines 14 - 16]. What does this mean in terms of how governments get power?

​Preamble

Close Reading: Jefferson writes that “whenever any form of government becomes destructive…it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.”What does this tell us about how the colonists viewed the purpose of government? [lines 16 - 18]? 

​Grievances

1. Analysis: Which grievance do you think had the biggest impact on the colonists’ decision to rebel — taxation without consent, unfair trials, or standing armies?
   
   He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.” How does this grievance show the colonists’ fear of tyranny?

Denunciation

Close Reading: According to lines 1 - 13, what have colonists done before this Declaration of Independence to address their concerns?  How did Great Britain respond? 

Close Reading: According to lines 15 - 28, When Jefferson writes that the colonies now “absolve all allegiance to the British Crown,” what new identity are the colonists creating for themselves?

Denunciation

Close Reading: Does the Declaration of Independence formally declare war on England, or does it do something else? Why is this distinction important?

Open Ended

Compare the purpose of the Grievances section and the Denunciation section of the Declaration of Independence.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following revolutionary ideas did the Declaration of Independence declare to the world?

• That government exists to protect natural rights and derives authority only from the people's consent.

• That the colonies should remain under British rule.

• That only wealthy landowners should have rights.

• That the colonies should form a monarchy.

Open Ended

How do you see the Declaration's three parts—philosophy, evidence, and action—reflected in social movements today?