NAME:_________________________________________________
PERIOD:_______________________
The Declaration of Independence: A Close Reading
Part One: Close Reading
In Congress, July 4th, 1776
unanimous -
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen
United States of America
When in the Course of human events, it
dissolve –
becomes necessary for one people to dissolve
the political bands which have connected
them with another, and to assume among the
powers –
powers of the earth, the separate and equal
station to which the Laws of Nature and of
Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to
impel the opinions of mankind requires that they
should declare the causes which impel them
to the separation.
self-evident –
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that
all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable –
unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments
derive (deriving) –
are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed,
That whenever any Form of Government
becomes destructive of these ends, it is the
right of the People to alter or abolish it, and
abolish -
to institute new Government, laying its
foundation on such principles and organizing
its powers in such form, as to them shall seem
most likely to affect their Safety and
Happiness.
transient –
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that
Governments long established should not
be changed for light and transient causes;
usurpations –
and accordingly all experience hath shewn,
that mankind are more disposed to suffer,
while evils are sufferable, than to right
evinces themselves by abolishing the forms to which
they are accustomed. But when a long train
of abuses and usurpations, pursuing
despotism invariably the same Object evinces a design to
reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is
their right, it is their duty, to throw off such
Government, and to provide new Guards for
their future security. Such has been the
patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such
is now the necessity which constrains them to
alter their former Systems of Government.
The history of the present King of Great
Britain is a history of repeated injuries and
usurpations, all having in direct object the
establishment of an absolute Tyranny over
these States. To prove this, let Facts be
submitted to a candid world.
candid -
Part Two: Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: Using the following method to address each of the questions below.
 Re-read the section of the text in the box.
 Take notes to help you respond to the questions.
 Discuss the questions with a partner.
 Write what you think is the best answer to each question.
In Congress, July 4th, 1776
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen
United States of America
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve
the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the
powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of
Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they
should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
1. What can you infer about this reading from the opening “The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen
United States of America?” What kind of text is this? What do you expect this text will be about?
2. What is the tone of this text in this passage? Which words in the text lead you to that conclusion?
3. What has “become necessary”? What does this phrase imply about the actions taken by colonist prior
to the declaration?
4. What does labeling the Americans “one people” and the British “another” say about their union?
5. How does the author’s choice of words “dissolve” and “separation” illustrate his point of view
regarding the nature of this disunion?
6. What “entitled” Americans to claim this separation? How does this justification affect their case for
independence?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty,
and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among
Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the People to alter or abolish
it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing
its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.
7. What “self-evident” truths does the author identify?
8. How does the author’s choice of the phrases “self-evident” truths and “unalienable rights” affect his
argument?
9. Why are “governments instituted among men”?
10. What does “deriving their powers from the consent of the governed” mean?
11. Under what circumstances do the people have the right to “alter or abolish” their government?
12. According to the author, how should any new government be created?
13. Explain the key point in the author’s argument in this portion of the text.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for
light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more
disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms
to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is
their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their
future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of
the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in
direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let
Facts be submitted to a candid world.
14. Explain the author’s reasoning for declaring independence at this point in time.
15. Which words in this portion of the text illustrate the author’s point of view on declaring independence
from Great Britain?
16. How does the author’s choice of words affect the argument for declaring independence?
17. Summarize the message the author is sharing with the “candid world”. Cite examples from the entire
preamble.
Part Three: Informative/Explanatory Essay
After reading the preamble of the Declaration of Independence, write an essay that explains the ideas and
principles American colonists used to justify their independence from Great Britain. Support your explanation
with specific evidence from the text.
Pre-writing Graphic Organizer
Directions: in the column on the left, identify and describe principles from the Declaration that form the
foundation of America’s political beliefs. In the column on the right, cite specific quotations from the text of
the Declaration that conveys those principles. You are not limited to one quote per principle. Students should
use this chart as the basis of their essay.
AMERICAN PRINCIPLES
Principle/Ideal
Specific Quote(s) from the Declaration
Outline of the Essay:
st
1 Paragraph (Introduction)
2nd Paragraph (Body)
3rd Paragraph (Body)
4th Paragraph (Body)
5th Paragraph (Conclusion)
What is the Declaration of Independence? Who wrote it?
When was it written? Why was it written? Who was meant to
read the Declaration of Independence? Was it necessary?
American Principle #1 from the Declaration of Independence.
State the specific quote. How does this principle and quote
support the colonists need for independence?
American Principle #2 from the Declaration of Independence.
State the specific quote. How does this principle and quote
support the colonists need for independence?
American Principle #3 from the Declaration of Independence.
State the specific quote. How does this principle and quote
support the colonists need for independence?
Did this document express the colonists’ desire for
independence properly? What would you have changed? Do
you believe it was necessary for the colonists to gain its
independence from Great Britain?