Declaration of Independence
From: Digital Inquiry Group
Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)
Remote Ready: With Modifications
Time: 1 Class Period or Less
Length of Reading: Paragraphs
First, students read 2 historian's (Bailyn and Zinn) interpretations on the question of weather colonial leaders were motivated by selfish or ideological reasons (this totals 4 short paragraphs). Students fill-out a worksheet.
Secondly, students re-write the preamble of the Declaration of Independence in their own words.
Finally, students go through the grievances listed in Declaration and categorize them as grievances that would affect only the rich and powerful or all the colonists.
More Information:
Grade Level:
(MS), (HS), (College): We put these in parentheses because there is no specified age group for the activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school, high school, and college students
This Activity Involves:
Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources.
Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources.
Writing Exercise: This activity requires a writing assignment such as a discussion post, journal entry, or lengthy response to a prompt. Almost all of our activities require students to answer questions with short responses, but this icon refers to a slightly longer writing assignments.
Image: Trumbull, John (painter). Illman Brothers (engravers). “The Declaration of Independence.” Library of Congress, 1876, https://lccn.loc.gov/2018645792.print. Accessed: 7.18.2020.
