Declaration Of Independence WS 08

Middle School Social Studies The United States Constitution as a Living Document

Nineteenth Century American History Teacher Resource

Name ______Date ______

Declaration of Independence: Student Worksheet

Answer the following questions using the Declaration of Independence.

1.  What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? (Paragraph 1)

2.  Identify the three natural or unalienable rights of individuals (written in the 1776 context as men) as stated in the Declaration of Independence? (Paragraph 2)

a. ______

b. ______

c. ______

3.  According to the Declaration of Independence, from whom do governments get their power? (Paragraph 2)

4.  According to the Declaration of Independence, what should people do when the government abuses its power? (Paragraph 2)

5.  List 10 of the grievances by colonist that are identified in the Declaration of Independence. (Hint: There are a total of twenty-eight.)

a.  ______

b.  ______

c.  ______

d.  ______

e.  ______

f.  ______

g.  ______

h.  ______

i.  ______

j.  ______

6.  What did the signers of the Declaration of Independence want to do?

7.  What was the compact or pledge of the signers?

Declaration of Independence: Answer Guide

Answer the following questions using the Declaration of Independence.

1.  What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? (Paragraph 1)

The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to explain the reasons why the colonists wanted to break free from rule under the British government.

Teacher note: The introduction dignifies the Revolution as a contest of principle. It implies that the American cause has a special claim to moral legitimacy, yet does not mention England or America by name. Since the purpose of the Declaration was simply to “declare”--to announce publicly in explicit terms--the “causes” impelling America to leave the British empire, it gives the reader a sense of objectivity that it will seek to maintain throughout. Rather than presenting one side in a public controversy on which good and decent people could differ, the Declaration purports merely to report the causes to the reader. The Declaration centers the issue as one of observation, rather than interpretation.

2.  Identify the three natural or unalienable rights of individuals (written in the 1776 context as men) as stated in the Declaration of Independence? (Paragraph 2)

a.  Life

b. Liberty

c. The pursuit of happiness

3.  According to the Declaration of Independence, from whom do governments get their power? (Paragraph 2)

Governments get their power from the people. Since all people have the rights listed in question 2 (the unalienable rights), people agree to form governments to protect their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

4.  According to the Declaration of Independence, what should people do when the government abuses its power? (Paragraph 2)

When government violates the natural or inalienable rights of its citizens, it is the citizens’ duty to abolish the government and create a new one.

Teacher note: One scholar explained the argument in paragraph 2 as follows:

Major premise: When government deliberately seeks to reduce the people under absolute despotism, the people have a right, indeed a duty, to alter or abolish that form of government and to create new guards for their future security.

Minor premise: The government of Great Britain has deliberately sought to reduce the American people under absolute despotism.

Conclusion: Therefore the American people have a right, indeed a duty, to abolish their present form of government and to create new guards for their future security.

5.  List 10 of the grievances by colonist that are identified in the Declaration of Independence.

Some possible answer include that the King:

a.  Refused to approve laws when they were needed

b.  Forbid Governors to pass laws until the King approved them, and he ignored these requests for new laws

c.  Refused to pass laws for the people unless they gave up their right to representation in Parliament

d.  Tried to control colonial legislatures, including closing some (Massachusetts)

e.  Made colonial legislatures meet in uncomfortable surroundings

f.  Prevented the election of new legislators when other he dissolved existing ones.

g.  Obstructed justice by refusing to have a judiciary

h.  Refused to let settlers move west

i.  Prevented justice by making judges dependent upon the king for their jobs and pay

j.  Sent officers (custom officials) to harass the people.

k.  Quartered armed troops

l.  Protected his troops from being held accountable for crimes against the colonists

m.  Took away charters and abolished colonial laws

n.  Made his military independent and superior to civil power

o.  Cutting off trade by blockading colonial ports

p.  Taxed colonists without representation in Parliament

q.  Deprived colonists of trials with a jury

r.  Waged war against the colonists by robbing ships and attacking and burning towns

s.  Hired of soldiers to fight in the colonies

t.  Forced internal revolts in the colonies

6.  What did the signers of the Declaration of Independence want to do?

They wanted the colonies to break free from British rule. The signers wanted the colonies to be recognized as Free and Independent States. They wanted to free the colonies and colonists from British rule and get rid of all political connections between the colonists and Great Britain. As Free and Independent States, they wanted the colonies to have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other things that independent countries can do.

7.  What was the compact or pledge of the signers?

They pledged their lives, fortunes, and honor to each other in exchange for support of the Declaration.

The Declaration of Independence

The complaints against the King listed in the Declaration of Independence are not a chronological listing of incidents. Rather, the complaints are grouped into four categories: (1) Unjust use of power; (2) Conspiring with Parliament in unjust acts or laws; (3) Warlike acts; and (4) That the colonists requests for redress of their grievances resulted only in “repeated injury.” Examples of the first three categories are shown below on the chart. Notice that all of the charges against the King as stated in the Declaration of Independence are intentionally vague. Although they refer to actual historical events during the Revolutionary Era, the Declaration does not identify names, dates, or places. Since the charges listed in the Declaration were not clear, it was difficult for Great Britain to refute each charge.

Work with a partner to see if you can identify some of the actions to which the Declaration of Independence refers. Your teacher may supply you with a reference sheet.

Declaration of Independence, The Stylistic Artistry. The National Archives Experience. 14 Nov. 2006 <http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_style.html>.

Events Leading to the American Revolution

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Events Leading to the American Revolution

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Events Leading to the American Revolution

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Chain of Events

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Britain needed money so they decided to tax the colonies with the Sugar Act.

As a result, colonists objected to the tax because they had no representatives in Parliament.

Britain continued to tax the colonists with the Stamp Act.

As a result, the colonists protested against the Stamp Act by meeting in the Stamp Act Congress and beginning a boycott.

As a result, Britain repealed the Stamp Act, but asserted power again by passing the Declaratory Act and the Townsend Acts.

As a result, there were stronger colonial protests and a boycott again.

As a result, Britain decided to send more troops to the colonies.

As a result, tensions rose in Boston.

Rising tensions led to the Boston Massacre.

Colonial anger increased following the deaths in Boston.

Britain continued to anger the colonists by passing the Tea Act.

As a result, the Boston Tea party occurred.

As a result of the Tea Party, Britain passed the Intolerable Acts.

As a result, the First Continental Congress met.

The British decided to arrest Congress leaders such as Samuel Adams and John Hancock. They also wanted to confiscate gunpowder the colonists had stored.

As a result, the Battles of Lexington and Concord occurred.

Sample Answers

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January 22, 2007 SCoPE SS080101 Page 1 of 10