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 Declaration
1775

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 Declaration
1776

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?