© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute 29

Study Guide for Chapter 6

The Declaration of Independence

Terms Locate as many of the following terms as you can in your Readingor Activity Notes and highlight them. For each term not already in yournotes, define and explain its significance on a separate sheet of paper.

George Washington (p. 80)Continental Army (p. 80)Bunker Hill (p. 80)Ticonderoga (p. 81)Olive Branch Petition (p. 82)Thomas Jefferson (p. 83)Declaration of Independence (p. 83)King George III (p. 83)

Essential Questions Consult your Reading Notes and, when necessary,History Alive! The United States Through Industrialism. For each questionbelow, record notes that prepare you to answer it.

1. Who said “Give me liberty, or give me death!” and what did it mean toPatriots? To Loyalists?

2. What political philosophy is expressed by the Declaration ofIndependence? (8.1.2)

3. What is the significance of each of these phrases from the Declaration ofIndependence:all men are created equalunalienable rightsconsent of the governedright of the people to alter or abolish it

Why were these phrases important to the development of Americandemocracy? (8.1.2)

4. According to the Declaration, what is the purpose of government?(8.1.2)

Timeline Label and illustrate a timeline with the events listed below. Foreach event, draw a creative and appropriate symbol near its proper place onthe timeline. Write the date the event occurred and an appropriate headlinefor each event.

Battle of Bunker HillOlive Branch PetitionCommon SenseSigning of the Declaration of Independence

Content Standards8.1 Students understand the major events preceding the found-ing of the nation and relate their significance to the development of American constitutional democracy.

8.1.2 Analyze the philosophy ofgovernment expressed in theDeclaration of Independence, withan emphasis on government as ameans of securing individual rights(e.g., key phrases such as “all menare created equal, that they areendowed by their Creator with cer-tain unalienable Rights”).