The Declaration of Independence Written by Thomas Jefferson

The Declaration of Independence Written by Thomas Jefferson, signed July 4 th, 1776 1. Read ONLY the Preamble 2. Discuss the information from the 1 st paragraph with your team members. 3. After the discussion, verbalize a one sentence summary of the paragraph and finally write a one sentence summary.

• What does preamble mean? Give evidence from the text. • Is the writer educated? Give evidence • What does “dissolve the political bands” mean? • If a country must break away from their government, what is required? • What do you think this document will be about? Why do you think that? • Share a summary your group discussed.

• Read the Declaration of Natural Rights. • Circle any words you may find interesting or any words you may not be able to define. • Discuss this section with your team. • Begin to attempt to answer Anchor Statement #2 (Identify one central idea you may think the author may develop in this text. )

• What words did you circle? What do you think a self -evident means? • Instituted? Deriving? Transient? Disposed? • What rights are we naturally born with? • How does a government gain its powers? • What do you think the central theme is at this time? Why? • When is it ok for people to overthrow their government?

• Read the opening paragraph of the List of Grievances. • Discuss it with your team members. • Answer the questions below: ▫ What is the “theme” or “central idea” stated in this paragraph? What purpose does it serve?

• Skim through the 27 different grievances. • What does grievance mean? • Who are the grievances against? • Rewrite 10 of the grievances as if they were a tweet. ie. <140 characters, hashtags, slang ▫ Example from # 1 “KGIII won’t pass laws 4 R good. #tyrant #necessaryforpublicgood #hesgottago”

• Read The Resolution of Independence by the United States • Who is the Supreme Judge of the world? • What does absolved mean? • What does “a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence” mean? • What is the overall purpose of this section?

What about this “declaration? • “Too Late to Apologize a Declaration”

Compare & Contrast • Compare the Declaration of Independence to music video in the areas of: ▫ Main Characters ▫ Setting ▫ Main Ideas ▫ Author’s Point of View ▫ Tone (Author’s attitude toward his/her topic) ▫ Mood (Atmosphere author creates through the use of word choice, style, and craft)