Declaration of Independence
In July, 1776, more than a year after fighting broke out at Lexington & Concord, Virginia Representative Richard
Henry Lee introduced a resolution for independence into the 2nd Continental Congress. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin
Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman were asked to draft a declaration of independence,
explaining why American felt the need to separate from the British Empire. Thomas Jefferson is most responsible for the
declaration, writing the first several drafts. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams also provided substantial editorial input–
for example, Benjamin Franklin replaced Jefferson’s proposed “Life, Liberty and Property” with “Life, Liberty, and the
Pursuit of Happiness”. Jefferson’s role as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence was kept secret until the
1790s-- writing the declaration was an act of treason in the eyes of the British crown, so the authors’ identities were kept
secret. The crime of treason was punishable by death. Jefferson’s role didn’t become common public knowledge until
the election of 1800. The declaration clearly spelled out the Founding Fathers’ perspective on government, natural rights,
and detailed the grievances (complaints) the colonies had against the British crown.
You can use the Declaration of Independence in your textbook, or at:
Declaration of Independence: A Transcription | National Archives
According to the preamble (introductory/first paragraph) what is the purpose of the Declaration of
Independence?
The purpose is to declare the separation of the United States of America from Great Britain and state the reasons
why.
By producing the Declaration of Independence, what are some groups of people the Continental Congress hoped
would become supporters of American independence after reading the Declaration? List at least 2 groups.
● The Continental Congress hopes to unite the colonists together to support their clause of American
independence for all.
● The Continental Congress also hopes to draw foreign support from those nations who oppose the British
as they are breaking away (and therefore weakening them).
According to the authors of the Declaration, who has the right to create a government?
The common people have the power to create a new government to govern themselves.
According to the authors of the Declaration, what is the purpose of a government?
The governments are created to protect the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and property for the common
people.
According to Jefferson, what should be done if a government does not fulfill its purpose?
The people have the right to throw off that government and create new Guards (government) to take the place of
that government.
Summarize Jefferson’s philosophy (idea) of government in your own words.
The people have the right to create a government that protects the basic rights of life, liberty, and property, and
the power to overthrow it if the government stops protecting that.
Select any three (3) grievances (complaints) against George III. Copy and paste or retype the grievance from the
Declaration of Independence, and either explain it in modern English, or list a British law, act or action that may
have prompted that complaint. Feel free to use your “Major Events Leading to the Revolution” notes for help.
Grievance (complaint) Explain in modern English and/or list a
British law, act, or action that caused
(Copy and paste from the Declaration) the complaint:
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and He won’t allow his governors (of the
pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent colonies) to make laws without putting
should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to them on the shelf until his consent is
attend to them. given, but he will neglect to give his
consent.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with He has broken up Representative
manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. Houses time and time again, because the
Houses have opposed his invasion on
people’s rights.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his He has blocked the spirit of justice, by
Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. refusing to establish laws to form
judicial powers.
What legal means of protest did the colonists take to try and convince the British to change their ways?
They protested wherever they could, they boycotted British goods, and they set a bunch of petitions and
grievances to the king to get him to change the laws.
How did the British respond to these legal protests?
The British mainly ignored the protests and grievances, but sometimes responded to the boycotts with harsher
punishments.
What conclusion did Jefferson draw, based on the British response to the Colonists’ complaints?
Jefferson drew the conclusion that the only way for the Americans and British to resolve their differences is for
them to separate and let America become their own nation.
What sacrifices were the signers willing to make in order to gain their independence (what were they willing to
pledge)?
They would give their lives, their fortunes, and their honor to gain their independence.
What do you think the British would have done to the signers of the Declaration of Independence if America had
lost the war?
They would have hung the leaders, or at least put them in jail.
Why do you think the British would do that to the signers of the Declaration of Independence?
They want to make sure that any other colony or region under Britain won’t do the same thing that the colonists
did, so they want to make an example out of the signers.
