Higher Ordered Thinking through Documents (H.O.T. DOCS) : Higher Ordered Thinking through Documents (H.O.T. DOCS)
Educational Excellence Through the Analysis of Great Documents
Presents
U.S. History The Foundations of Freedom : U.S. History The Foundations of Freedom
Document One:
The Declaration of Independence
Context of the Document : Context of the Document The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 primarily by Thomas Jefferson. The founding fathers asked Jefferson and a few other scholars to create a document that would explain to the world why the 13 colonies were separating themselves from England.
Slide4 : Jefferson was the
main author of the
document
The Declaration of Independence : The Declaration of Independence 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.
Slide6 : 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; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; 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, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
Slide7 : 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;
Slide8 : that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed;
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,
Slide9 : laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
Slide10 : He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:
Slide11 : We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; honor.
Slide12 : And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
Slide13 : Here are the names of all 56 signers of the Declaration. The first, largest, and most famous signature is that of John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. The youngest signer was Edward Rutledge (age 26). Benjamin Franklin (age 70) was the oldest. Two future presidents signed: John Adams (second President) and Thomas Jefferson (third President).
Slide14 : — John Hancock
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Slide15 : Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
Knowing the Historical Facts : Knowing the Historical Facts Skill Hierarchy: Knowledge
When was the Declaration of Independence written?
a) 1877 b)1976 c)1776
Who was the primary author of the document?
Patrick Henry b) Thomas Jefferson
c) James Madison
Understanding: Defining the Document’s Terms : Understanding: Defining the Document’s Terms Directions: Find the sentence or clause in the document that best matches the meaning of the statement below:
We believe that the following statements have always been true, and that they don’t have to be proven.
God made everyone equally and gave everyone the same rights that cannot be taken away.
Slide18 : People are free to choose the lives they want to live.
Men create governments in order to protect these rights.
Understanding the Document : Understanding the Document Government gets its power from the people.
If government tries to take away the rights that God gave the people, then the people should change or get rid of the government.
Then they should create a new government that will protect them and allow them to be prosperous.
Analyzing the Document : Analyzing the Document Key thoughts for discussion
Count how many times Jefferson refers to a divine being in the document.
When and why does he refer to God?
Could an atheist have written the Declaration of Independence?
Could a materialist world view build the foundations for our freedom?