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2. The Declaration of Independence
Page 29
Lesson 10
Document Analysis:
The Declaration of Independence

3. The Declaration of Independence
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence
Flocabulary
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

4. WRITING FOR UNDERSTANDING
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
WRITING FOR UNDERSTANDING
Now that you have learned about the key events that led to the Declaration of Independence, you will now examine the actual document.
The Declaration of Independence was written in the formal language of the late 1700s and is, therefore, challenging to understand.
You will work alone OR with a partner
to restate and illustrate the important ideas of
the Declaration of Independence
so that a fifth grader could understand them.

5. Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence29 R
LEARNING TARGET:
I can explain the eight key ideas of the Declaration of Independence by rephrasing key excerpts into simpler language.

6. GLOSSARY for the Declaration of Independence
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence L 28
GLOSSARY for the Declaration of Independence
Excerpt 1:
station place
entitle give right to
impel force
dissolved end
bands ties
assume take
powers other nations
Excerpt 2:
self-evident obvious
endowed given
unalienable not to be taken away
Excerpt 3:
secure defend
institute establish
derive receive
just fair
consent agreement
Excerpt 4:
alter change
Excerpt 5:
usurpation illegal seizure of power
in direct object the goal of
tyranny government by an
unjust ruler
Excerpt 6:
submit present for judgment
candid fair
assent agreement
Excerpt 7:
oppression unjust action
redress relief
Attach the
GLOSSARY for the
Declaration of Independence

7. Attach the Paraphrases of the Declaration of Independence
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence 29 R
Attach the Paraphrases of the
Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
SIMPLE SKETCH
Excerpt 1:
“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
Excerpt 2:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Excerpt 3:
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Excerpt 4:
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”
The KEY IDEA of the
Excerpt
An ILLUSTRATION of the KEY IDEA

8. EXCERPT REPHRASED EXCERPT
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 1:
“When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
When it is time for people in a country to break away from their country
and become a new nation,
they need to explain the reasons for this break to the world.
end
ties
other
nations
take
place
give right to
force
What should people do if they must break away from their country and make a new one?

9. Rights that cannot be taken away
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 2:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Everyone can clearly see that God made all men equal,
with certain rights that cannot be taken away, including
life,
the freedom to choose how to live,
and right to pursue what makes you happy.
obvious
given
Rights that cannot be taken away
What are the obvious truths we believe?

10. EXCERPT REPHRASED EXCERPT
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 3:
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
We, the people, give the government the authority to protect our rights.
defend
established
receiving
fair
agreement
What is the purpose of government?
Where does the government get its authority?

11. EXCERPT REPHRASED EXCERPT
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 4:
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”
If a government does not protect these rights,
the people may get rid of that government and replace it with one that does.
change
get rid of
establish
What should happen if government fails its job?

12. EXCERPT REPHRASED EXCERPT
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 4:
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”
If a government does not protect these rights,
the people may get rid of that government and replace it with one that does.
change
get rid of
establish
OLD GOVERNMENT
THE PEOPLE
OUR NEW GOVERNMENT
What should happen if government fails its job?

13. EXCERPT REPHRASED EXCERPT
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 4:
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”
If a government does not protect these rights,
the people may get rid of that government and replace it with one that does.
change
get rid of
establish
What should happen if government fails its job?

14. EXCERPT REPHRASED EXCERPT
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 5:
“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”
The record of the king clearly show he has a history of hurting us again and again by misusing his power
with the purpose of making us his slaves.
illegal seizure of power
the goal of
government by an unjust ruler
What are the colonists trying to prove?

15. EXCERPT REPHRASED EXCERPT
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 6:
“To prove this [that England has interfered with colonial rights], let Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”
Show the world the truth that England has ignored our good and laws that benefit us.
presented for
judgment
fair
agreement
To whom are the colonies trying to prove this?

16. EXCERPT REPHRASED EXCERPT
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 7:
“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”
We constantly begged for help from the king to stop this unfair treatment but we have only been told no and hurt more.
Therefore, the king is defined by his own actions as a harsh and cruel ruler who must be removed from governing us, a free people.
unjust actions
relief
What has been the king’s response to our protests?

17. EXCERPT REPHRASED EXCERPT
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
EXCERPT
REPHRASED EXCERPT
Excerpt 8:
“We, therefore… solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.”
Because of all this, we, the United Colonies of America, say we have the right and are a free country.
What are the colonies telling the world?

18. Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
PROCESSING the LESSON
You (and your partner) will create an illustrated children’s version of the Declaration of Independence that presents the eight key ideas.
Your version should be written in simple, clear language that a fifth grader could read and understand.

19. Your book should contain:
Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
Your book should contain:
A brief introduction explaining the
events that led to the Declaration of
Independence.
The eight key ideas you completed.
A color illustration for each key idea.
Details to make your children’s version of the
Declaration of Independence artistic and visually
appealing to a kid.
For example, you could add ecorated letters,
additional visuals, borders, pop-ups.
Language that is free of spelling mistakes and
grammatical errors.

20. Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence
STUDENT EXAMPLES

21. Lesson 10: Document Analysis ~ The Declaration of Independence