Complete the “ATTACK THE TEXT” process for the following 2 sources.
Historian’sinterpretation#1:ModifiedExcerptsfromThe IdeologicalOriginsoftheAmericanRevolutionbyBernardBailyn (1967)
TheDeclarationofIndependencerepresentsthecolonists’deepest fearsandbeliefs.Thecolonistsbelievedtheysawaclearpatternin theeventsthatfollowed1763.Theybelievedtheysawaneviland deliberateconspiracytocrushlibertyinAmerica.Theysawevidence ofthisconspiracyintheStampActandintheCoerciveActs.
TheyalsobelievedthatAmericawasdestinedtoplayaspecialrolein history.TheybelievedthatAmericawouldbecome“thefoundationof agreatandmightyempire,thelargesttheworldeversawtobe foundedonsuchprinciplesoflibertyandfreedom,bothciviland religious.”ThecolonistsbelievedthatEnglandwastryingtoenslave them,andthattheyshoulduse“allthepowerwhichGodhasgiven them”toprotectthemselves.
Historian’sinterpretation#2: ModifiedExcerptsfromA People’sHistoryoftheUnitedStatesbyHowardZinn(1980)
Itseemedcleartotheeducated,upper-classcoloniststhatsomething neededtobedonetopersuadethelowerclasstojointhe revolutionarycause,todirecttheirangeragainstEngland.The solutionwastofindlanguageinspiringtoallclasses,specificenough initslistingofgrievancestofillpeoplewithangeragainsttheBritish, vagueenoughtoavoidclassconflict,andstirringenoughtobuild patrioticfeelings.
EverythingtheDeclarationofIndependencewasabout–popular controlovergovernments,therightofrebellionandrevolution,furyat politicaltyranny,economicburdens,andmilitaryattacks–waswell suitedtounitelargenumbersofcolonistsandpersuadeeventhose whohadgrievancesagainstoneanothertoturnagainstEngland. SomeAmericanswereclearlyomittedfromthoseunitedbythe DeclarationofIndependence:Indians,blackslaves,andwomen.
WhydidtheFoundingFatherswrite theDeclarationofIndependence?
Recordwhateachhistorianbelievesinthechartbelow.
Historian#1Claim:
TheFoundingFatherswrotethe DeclarationofIndependence because... / Evidence:
Historian#2:
Claim: / Evidence:
WhenintheCourseofhumaneventsitbecomesnecessaryforone peopletodissolvethepoliticalbandswhichhaveconnectedthem withanotherandtoassumeamongthepowersoftheearth,the separateandequalstationtowhichtheLawsofNatureandof Nature'sGodentitlethem,adecentrespecttotheopinionsof mankindrequiresthattheyshoulddeclarethecauseswhichimpel themtotheseparation.
Vocabulary dissolve:disappear bands:connections station:place
impel:force
Inthespacebelow,re-writetheopening lines of the DeclarationofIndependence (shown above)inyour ownwords:
(1)Weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident,thatallmenarecreated equal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertainunalienablerights,thatamongthesearelife,libertyandthepursuitofhappiness. (2)Thattosecuretheserights,governmentsareinstitutedamong men,derivingtheirjustpowersfromtheconsentofthegoverned.(3) Thatwheneveranyformofgovernmentbecomesdestructivetothese ends,itistherightofthepeopletoalterortoabolishit,andto
institutenewgovernment.
Vocabulary
self-evident:obvious endowed:given
unalienable: cannotbe takenaway tosecure:toprotect
instituted:setup deriving:getting
just:fair
consent:agreement ends:goals
alter:change
abolish:togetrid of
Puttheparagraphinyourownwords:
(1) Webelieve in theseobvious truths:thatall men are createdequal,thatthey
.
(2) Inorder toprotecttheserights,governmentsare setup.Thesegovernments gettheir powers from _
(3)
.
DeclarationofIndependenceGrievancesName
Directions:Below are mostofthegrievances fromtheDeclarationof
Independence.
•Ifthegrievance seems tobe somethingthatwould affectonlytherichandpowerful,writeO(forONLYrich and powerful)
•Ifthegrievance seems tobe somethingthatwould affectallthecolonists,writeA(forALL thecolonists)
•Ifyou don’tknow who would be affected,write‘?’
(1 &2) He has refusedtopass,and forbiddenhis governors topass,important and necessary laws.
(5 &6) He has broken up certainlegislaturesthatopposed him,and refusedto let others be elected.
(8 &9) He has refusedtoestablishcourtsofjustice,and has made judges dependent on him for their jobs and salaries.
(10) He has sentswarms ofBritishofficerstoharass our people and eatour food.
(11 &12) He has keptamong us,in timesofpeace,standingarmies,withoutthe consent of our legislatures.
(16) For cutting off our trade with all parts ofthe world;
(17) For imposing taxes on us without our consent;
(18) For depriving us, in many cases, ofthe benefits oftrial by jury;
(23 &24) He is waging war againstus;He has plundered our seas,ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
(27) He has startedfightsamong us and has also forcedus tolive near merciless
Indian savages.
1.Do thesegrievances seem tobe thingsthatupsetrich people or everyone?
2.Do you thinkthesecomplaintswould give people reason togo towar and possibly die? Whyor why not?