Oklahoma Academic Standard 3. The student will examine the foundations of the American nation established during the Revolutionary Era.

Objective 

5.3.2 A-D  Analyze the ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted July 4, 1776, used to:

  A.  identify natural, unalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

  B.  declare the equality of all individuals

  C.  define the purpose of government 

  D.  establish the principle of self-government and consent of the governed 

In a Nutshell

Students should understand that the Declaration of Independence provides a foundation for the American republican system based on the concept that government's powers derive from the people and that government exists to serve the people. The Declaration of Independence also played a significant role in unifying the colonies by openly explaining why the colonies had chosen to separate from Great Britain. Therefore, it is imperative that students thoroughly examine the political ideas presented in the document and the intent to establish an independent American republic.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Guide students in determining an author’s purpose and draw conclusions to evaluate how well the author’s purpose was achieved by examining the major arguments for self-rule presented the Declaration of Independence.

• Assist students in identifying the intended audience and purpose of an historical primary source from information found within the Declaration of Independence. 

• Examine the purposes of government and laws as expressed in historic documents of the early American republic.

•  Identify democratic principles in historic documents and describe examples of civic virtues and democratic principles at work. 

• Engage in collaborative discussions about appropriate topics and texts in order to examine the purposes of government and explain how laws are made in a democratic society to protect individual freedoms. 

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, King George III

• Second Continental Congress

• Enlightenment theory of the "social contract"

• principles of self-evident truths, equality of citizens, inalienable rights, self-determination, self-rule, source of government's authority, consent of the government, right to change or alter government

•  grievances, complaints: taxation, authority of colonial governments, dissolution/suspension of colonial governments, trade barriers, judicial right to trial by jury, presence of British military, waging war against colonists 

• Some students may not fully realize the significance of proclaiming both political and economic independence from imperial rule.

• Some students may not appreciate the far-reaching impact of the ideas stated in the document as relate to the concepts of democracy and the purpose of government and influenced subsequent revolutions in the Americas.

• Many students mistakenly believe that the Declaration of Independence formed a new government in the colonies, as opposed to being a statement of the causes for rebellion and intent to form a new nation. 

Instructional Resources