The Making of the Declaration of Independence

 

When Thomas Jefferson was called upon to write the Declaration of Independence he might have known that he would affect history with his message to King George III.  It’s easy to question whether he realized that his well chosen words, focusing on “natural rights,” would shake the world order and form a new style of government. His vision defined a government of the people, by the people, a radical concept at the time. Most Americans gloss over the controversy the document caused, and the fact that it was written to sway colonists, as well as inform King George.  Yet this controversy is exactly what you can use to intrigue your toughest audience.  

My favorite animated series about the Revolutionary period is "Liberty's Kids." Both fun and educational, the show is designed for eight through fourteen year olds, however, people of all ages can enjoy and learn something new about America's beginnings. Originally shown on PBS, "Liberty's Kids" examines the birth of our nation through the lives of three youths growing up in the middle of the American Revolution. "The First Fourth of July," (episode 13), examines the evolution of the Declaration of Independence. This episode, which is available on YouTube, introduces viewers to Jefferson's struggle to produce the famous document, and describes the editing process involved in coming to a consensus about what the document should say. It’s a great introduction to the study of the Declaration of Independence. The series is an enjoyable and educational way to get students thinking about the American Revolution. 

Many organizations are devoted to the history and study of this document. Some, like the Library of Congress and the Constitutional Rights Foundation. provide well-researched background and guides for teaching this subject.  After taking a look at the Declaration of Independence, students can focus on the grievances the colonists listed. Were they all reasonable?  Ask students to list and discuss the ones they feel may be frivolous. They should debate whether our government is repeating any of the king's errors.  If so, how?  Students could write a letter to their representative discussing what they think needs to change.

What follows are some lessons that can be done as part of a study of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.

Declaration of Independence Lesson Plans:

The Declaration of Independence: from Rough Draft to Proclamation

In this lesson students are introduced to the Declaration of Independence through Jefferson's “original rough draught”. Students are asked to identify the document.  (They probably won’t be able to and that’s part of the lesson.) Later, they compare the draft with the finished copy, leading them to analyze the differences. Then students come up with theories about what those changes meant for the world. Through this lesson students can also become more aware of how important and memorable words can be.

The Declaration of Independence and Natural Rights  

This lesson emphasizes the philosophy behind Jefferson's words. Activities include discussion and debate of important topics, along with a tenable explanation of John Locke's theory. This lesson also examines the paradox of Jefferson believing in the rights of man, while owning slaves. 

The Social Contract and Natural Rights Theories

I might follow the lesson described above with a discussion of John Locke, who can be considered the intellectual father of Jefferson. You could have each member of the class read a different chapter of "The Second Treatise of Civil Government" by John Locke. Each student can compare their selection to what is found in the Declaration of Independence.  Have the students split up in small groups and discuss their findings.  Students can switch groups and repeat the process. Students could also compare the ideas of Rousseau and Locke.