American IdealsAmerican Ideals

The Declaration of Independence

and American Ideals

Essential Skills: 1)Demonstrate an understanding of influences on the Declaration of Independence and of ideals contained in the document2)Explicitly assess images of American events, and draw conclusions about how they represent American ideals3)Write persuasively

►1) Who was the main person to draft 1) Who was the main person to draft the Declaration of Independence?the Declaration of Independence?

►Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson►2) Which Enlightenment philosopher 2) Which Enlightenment philosopher

influenced the ideas in the Declaration influenced the ideas in the Declaration of Independence the most?of Independence the most?

► John LockeJohn Locke►4) What is a grievance?4) What is a grievance?►A complaintA complaint

Influences on the DOIInfluences on the DOI

► ““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

Influences on the DOIInfluences on the DOI

► ““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happinesspursuit of Happiness. That to secure these . That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

Influences on the DOIInfluences on the DOI

► ““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of deriving their just powers from the consent of the governedthe governed, That whenever any Form of , That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

Influences on the DOIInfluences on the DOI

► ““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That the governed, That whenever any Form of whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Governmentabolish it, and to institute new Government…”…”

Influences on the DOIInfluences on the DOI

► ““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happinesspursuit of Happiness. That . That to secure these to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of deriving their just powers from the consent of the governedthe governed, That , That whenever any Form of whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Governmentabolish it, and to institute new Government…”…”

Definition: IdealDefinition: Ideal

►A standard of excellence; A standard of excellence; something that we strive to something that we strive to achieveachieve

Ideals represented in Ideals represented in the Declaration of Independencethe Declaration of Independence► ““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that We hold these truths to be self-evident, that

all men are created all men are created EqualEqual, that they are , that they are endowed by their Creator with certain endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Life, LibertyLiberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. , and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”and to institute new Government…”

Other ideals represented in the Other ideals represented in the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

► ““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created all men are created EqualEqual, that they are , that they are endowed by their Creator with certain endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable unalienable RightsRights, that among these are Life, , that among these are Life, LibertyLiberty, and the , and the Pursuit of HappinessPursuit of Happiness. . That to secure these rights, Governments are That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the powers from the Consent of the Consent of the governedgoverned, That whenever any Form of , That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

Ideals in the DeclarationIdeals in the Declaration

►RightsRights – basic conditions guaranteed – basic conditions guaranteed to each person to each person

►Liberty Liberty – freedom to think and act– freedom to think and act►EqualityEquality – having the same rights – having the same rights

and opportunities as othersand opportunities as others►DemocracyDemocracy – a government in which – a government in which

ultimate power comes from the ultimate power comes from the citizenscitizens

►OpportunityOpportunity – having the chance to – having the chance to achieve one’s dreamsachieve one’s dreams

Stand in the Corner that BEST Stand in the Corner that BEST expresses your view.expresses your view.

► All Americans are treated All Americans are treated equally equally under the law.under the law.► Some Americans are given more Some Americans are given more rightsrights than others. than others.► All Americans should be given All Americans should be given equal rights equal rights to marry to marry

the person they love.the person they love.► Americans need more Americans need more freedomsfreedoms than we have today. than we have today.► All Americans have the same All Americans have the same opportunitiesopportunities to succeed to succeed

in life.in life.► All Americans should be given All Americans should be given equalequal access to quality access to quality

education regardless of whether they are rich or pooreducation regardless of whether they are rich or poor► Business owners should have Business owners should have libertyliberty to decide whether to decide whether

or not they pay for healthcare for their employeesor not they pay for healthcare for their employees► Wealthy people have more influence on American Wealthy people have more influence on American

democracydemocracy than other Americans. than other Americans.

In Class AssignmentIn Class Assignment► You will read a placard at each station You will read a placard at each station

you move to.you move to.► You will examine a series of images and You will examine a series of images and

quotes that span American history from quotes that span American history from colonial times to modern day. Each image colonial times to modern day. Each image and quote relates to our American Ideals and quote relates to our American Ideals from the Declaration of Independence. from the Declaration of Independence. They demonstrate either:They demonstrate either:

►A BELIEF in an idealA BELIEF in an ideal►A STRUGGLE for an idealA STRUGGLE for an ideal►A CONFLICT over an ideal A CONFLICT over an ideal

Take notes in preparation to answer Take notes in preparation to answer this Questionthis Question: Has America lived up : Has America lived up

to our ideals expressed in the to our ideals expressed in the Declaration?Declaration?

► Read the descriptions and quotes. Look at Read the descriptions and quotes. Look at the images. the images.

► Assess which of the five ideal(s) the picture Assess which of the five ideal(s) the picture relates to and write why.relates to and write why.

► Draw conclusions about whether the placard Draw conclusions about whether the placard is an example of America living up to that is an example of America living up to that ideal or not.ideal or not.

► Record 2 to 4 important facts/details to help Record 2 to 4 important facts/details to help you make the argument that our country you make the argument that our country was or was not living up to that ideal.was or was not living up to that ideal.

► You will use your notes for a graded You will use your notes for a graded paragraph that you write today in-class.paragraph that you write today in-class.

► You will only have 2 minutes per station so You will only have 2 minutes per station so STAY FOCUSED!STAY FOCUSED!

QuestionQuestion: Has America lived up to : Has America lived up to our ideal of ____________?our ideal of ____________?

Paragraphs must be 8-10 sentences. (This is graded.)Paragraphs must be 8-10 sentences. (This is graded.) Begin withBegin with a one-sentence thesis: a one-sentence thesis: ““America has/has not lived up to our ideal of America has/has not lived up to our ideal of

[[equalityequality] because….”] because….” It does not matter whether you argue yes or no. It does not matter whether you argue yes or no.

What matters is that you support your argument What matters is that you support your argument with evidence.with evidence.

Support your thesis with 3 examples from the Support your thesis with 3 examples from the placards placards oror from your own knowledge of U.S. from your own knowledge of U.S. History or current events.History or current events.

End byEnd by answering the question: answering the question: What do Americans What do Americans still need to do to achieve this ideal? still need to do to achieve this ideal? OR OR What What have we done recently to uphold this ideal?have we done recently to uphold this ideal?

If you finish early, try the optional CHALLENGE: 2 If you finish early, try the optional CHALLENGE: 2 to 5 paragraph essay on 2 or more of the ideals.to 5 paragraph essay on 2 or more of the ideals.

Sample paragraphSample paragraph► Although Americans claim that our country promotes Although Americans claim that our country promotes

equality, we have not always lived up to that ideal, as equality, we have not always lived up to that ideal, as evidenced by repeated instances of discrimination. evidenced by repeated instances of discrimination. During our Colonial era, men who did not own property During our Colonial era, men who did not own property were not allowed to vote. African-Americans were were not allowed to vote. African-Americans were enslaved and denied basic rights of citizenship. A enslaved and denied basic rights of citizenship. A bloody Civil War was fought in 1861 to end slavery in bloody Civil War was fought in 1861 to end slavery in the South. Women were also a group that was denied the South. Women were also a group that was denied equality during this era. Through social protests and equality during this era. Through social protests and demonstrations they too were able to gain the right to demonstrations they too were able to gain the right to vote in 1919. This struggle continues today. Americans vote in 1919. This struggle continues today. Americans still need to do more to live up to our ideal of equality. still need to do more to live up to our ideal of equality. Women are still paid less money than men for the same Women are still paid less money than men for the same work. Discrimination still creates problems for people work. Discrimination still creates problems for people of color. We need to do more to treat each other with of color. We need to do more to treat each other with respect and equality, regardless of our differences.respect and equality, regardless of our differences.