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.
Complaint / King’s ActionsThe King’s Unjust Use of Power
(He was unfair) / Refused to approve laws when they were needed
Tried to control colonial legislatures, including closing some
Refused to let settlers move west
Prevented justice by making judges dependent upon the king for their jobs and pay
Sent officers (custom officials) to harass the people.
Unjust acts of Parliament
(Parliament was being unfair) / Quartered armed troops
Cutting off trade by blockading colonial ports
Taxing colonists without representation in Parliament
Depriving colonists of trials with a jury
Warlike Acts
(Treated colonists like they were at war) / Waging war against the colonists by robbing ships and attacking and burning towns
Hiring of soldiers to fight in the colonies
Forcing internal revolts in the colonies
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
(SS080101)
EVENT / YEAR / WHAT HAPPENED? / REACTIONProclamation of 1763 / 1763 / · Result of French and Indian War.
· The British government set a western boundary for the colonies. / · Colonists were angry they had been told they could not expand to the west.
· Colonists felt it infringed on their rights. Some believed the King did not have authority.
Sugar Act / 1764 / · Placed a tax on sugar and other things not from Britain.
· A way for Britain to control colonial trade.
· British sent tax collectors to the colonies from Britain. / · Colonists said it was an unfair tax.
· Colonists protested.
· Some colonists attacked tax collectors.
· Colonists smuggled some goods like sugar.
Quartering Act / 1765 / · Colonists had to give supplies and shelter to British soldiers. / · Colonists felt they should not have to pay for British soldiers and protested the Act.
Stamp Act / 1765 / · A tax was placed on many items such as printed paper goods made in the colonies.
· A stamp was placed on the item when a tax paid. / · Colonists said it was an unfair tax.
· Colonial rallying cry, “No taxation without representation” which reflected the idea of government by consent.
· Colonists boycotted British goods and engaged in some violence.
Events Leading to the American Revolution
(SS080101)
EVENT / YEAR / WHAT HAPPENED? / REACTIONTownshend Acts / 1767 / · British placed a tax on things like glass and paint.
· Writs of Assistance were issued that allowed the British to search for smuggling without evidence. / · Colonists were very angry.
· Circular letter- Massachusetts.
· Boycott and more violence.
Boston Massacre / 1770 / · Britain sent more troops.
· British fire on colonists and five colonists are killed.
· Crispus Attucks, former enslaved African, was first killed. / · Talk of war begins.
Commitees of Correspondence / 1772 / · Samuel Adams called for a Boston town meeting to create a committee of correspondence to communicate Boston’s position on issues to the other colonies. / · Similar committees were soon created throughout the colonies.
Tea Act / 1773 / · Allowed one company to sell tea at a lower price.
· Hurt colonial merchants. / · Colonists called it interference.
Events Leading to the American Revolution
(SS080101)
EVENT / YEAR / WHAT HAPPENED? / REACTIONBoston Tea
Party / 1773 / · Colonists tossed tea into Boston Harbor as a protest of the Tea Act. / · British were angry and demanded payment for the tea.
· British passed new laws.
· British blockaded Boston Harbor.
Intolerable Acts / 1774 / · The British passed four new laws as punishment for the Boston Tea Party.
· The British closed Boston Harbor until colonists paid for the money lost when the tea was dumped in the harbor.
· New Quartering Act passed. / · Colonists decided to meet to protest: First Continental Congress.
· Some colonists got weapons.
First Continental Congress / 1774 / · Representatives from all colonies except Georgia met in Philadelphia.
· They wrote Declaration of Rights.
· They planned a boycott of British goods. / · Britain sent more soldiers to the colonies.
· Britain decided to arrest some colonial leaders.
Battles of Lexington and Concord / 1775 / · The colonists stored gunpowder at Concord, Massachusetts and the British decided to get it.
· British and colonial soldiers met at Lexington for a battle.
· Another battle occurred at Concord. / · The Revolutionary War officially began.
Chain of Events
(SS080101)
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
(SS080101)
Complaint / King’s Actions / Relation to EventsThe King’s Unjust Use of Power
(He was unfair) / Refused to approve laws when they were needed.
Tried to control colonial legislatures, including closing some.
Refused to let settlers move west.
Prevented justice by making judges dependent upon the king for their jobs and pay.
Sent officers (custom officials) to harass the people. / Unclear.
(Not in reference sheet – when the New York legislature refused to not to fund the quartering of soldiers, the legislature was closed temporarily as part of the Townsend Acts. The House of Burgesses in Virginia was dissolved after the legislature passed resolutions denouncing the Stamp Act. The Massachusetts Assembly was closed after the assembly sent other colonies a circular letter explaining their distress at the Townsend Acts and as part of the Intolerable Acts).
Proclamation of 1763.
Sugar Act, Townsend Acts.
Unjust acts of Parliament
(Parliament was being unfair) / Quartered armed troops.
Cutting off trade by blockading colonial ports.
Taxing colonists without representation in Parliament.
Depriving colonists of trials with a jury. / Quartering Act.
Intolerable Acts.
Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Tea Act, Townsend Acts.
Mass governor dissolves general court.
Warlike Acts
(Treated colonists like they were at war) / Waging war against the colonists by robbing ships and attacking and burning towns.
Hiring of soldiers to fight in the colonies.
Forcing internal revolts in the colonies. / Lexington and Concord.
Hiring of German Hessians.
Boston Massacre, Lexington and Concord.
January 22, 2007 SCoPE SS080101 Page 1 of 10