Analyzing theDeclaration of Independence

Mr. Veliz7th Grade Bridge to APU.S. History

The Road to the Declaration

1763 – French & Indian War ends April 1764 – Sugar Act March 1765 – Stamp Act June 1767 – Townshend Act March 1770 – Boston Massacre Dec. 1773 – Boston Tea Party March - June 1774 – Intolerable Acts Sept. - Oct. 1774 - 1st Continental Congress

The Road to the Declaration1775

April 18 – Revere and Dawes ride April 19 – Battles of Lexington & Concord May 10 – Ethan Allen & GMB take Ticonderoga May - 2nd Continental Congress met June 15 – Washington named Comm. in Chief June 16 – Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill

The Road to the Declaration1776

Jan. - Thomas Paine's Common Sense published March – British evacuate Boston June 7 – Richard Henry Lee proposes

independence June 11 – Committee of Five appointed July 4 – Declaration of Independence ratified August 2 – Declaration of Independence signed

What do you see in the painting?What do you think is happening?

What sectors of colonial society were represented on the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence?

What groups were excluded?

What kind of issues do you think these men are talking about?

It's July! What do you think the atmosphere is like in the room?

What concerns do you think these people might have as they drafted the document?

How do you think the King and Parliament felt about this meeting?

What important event is going on in the colonies other than this meeting in 1776?

With your partner:

Match the excerpts on the Matrix with translation cards – you'll get one at a time.

You will then illustrate a representation of one of the excerpts (I'll assign one to you).

Be creative!! You will be evaluated on your ability to convey

the meaning of the excerpt, not your artistic ability.

Use the excerpt as the caption for your illustration.

Wrap-Up: A few questions.

In general why was the Declaration written? What basic rights does the document claim individuals

have? According to the document, why do the colonists have

the right to declare independence? According to the colonists, how has the King

responded to their grievances? How do you think the King and parliament felt when

they read this? What do you think their response was? What risks did the colonists take by writing this?

Wrap-Up: A few questions.

From whose point of view was the Declaration of Independence written?

What colonial actions were omitted, or not mentioned, in the document? Why do you think they are omitted?

What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence? Why is this document still significant today?

What do you see in this image? What is the caption?

What symbols do you see? What does the horse represent? Who is on the horse?

Who is the man in the background? What is each man holding? What is the horse doing?

Why might the horse want to throw off the rider? What is the artist's message?

Was the artist a Loyalist or Patriot? Why do you think that? How does it relate to the Declaration?