The Declaration of Independence

• Resolution passes July 2, 1776

• 2 days later (July 4, 1776) Congress adopted Declaration by signing it.

• Because signing the Declaration was an act of treason, the signers were encouraged to stand together…

• Core ideas were:

-People have rights that the govt. cannot take away

-If they try to take them away, people have right to abolish that govt. -Also included list of reasons WHY they were breaking from Britain

Reading Like a Historian

Central Question:

Why did the Founders write the Declaration of Independence?

Were they motivated by selfish or ideological reasons?

• Selfish - concerned with your own interests, needs, and wishes – Examples?

• Ideological – related to a set of values that shapes the way a person/group thinks, acts, and understands the world– Examples?

Historian #1

Claim:The Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration because…

Evidence:

Historian #2

Claim:The Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration because…

Evidence:

Declaration Preamble

• Read the excerpt provided, paying attention to the vocabulary hints.

• Then, with a partner, summarize the second paragraph in your own words.

Based on the words in the Preamble,

do you think the Declaration of

Independence was written for selfish

or ideological reasons? Why?

Independent Practice

• Grievances Section (On the handout)

• Homework(On loose leaf paper)