Name _____________________________________________
Date ____________________
Colonists Urged to Use Common Sense
BrainBuilder
LA #654
Gathering
In 1776, the colonies were buzzing with excitement. A journalist named Thomas Paine had written
a pamphlet called Common Sense. In it, he encouraged the colonists to claim independence or to
break away from England’s rule. His pamphlet helped to inspire the writing of the Declaration of
Independence. On July 4, 1776, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. Take a
closer look at how the colonies moved toward independence.
Part A
Directions:
Draw a line connecting each section of the Declaration of Independence with its
description.
Sections of the Declaration
Description
1. declaration of rights
a. This explains the harmful actions that
King George III committed against the
colonists. The 27 items listed happened
between 1763 and 1776.
2. statement of independence
b. This explains why the Americans thought
that it was necessary to separate from
Great Britain.
3. list of wrongs
c. This explains that the colonies are free
and independent states.
4. preamble
d. This states the basic rights of all people,
including life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness. The government’s duty is to
protect these rights. If the government
fails to protect its citizens, the government
risks being replaced.
Page 1 of 5
© 2002 CompassLearning Odyssey™
Name _____________________________________________
Date ____________________
Colonists Urged to Use Common Sense
BrainBuilder
LA #654
Part B
Directions:
Fill in the blank with the correct answer from the date box below.
July 9, 1976
June 7, 1776
July 9, 1776
July 4, 1976
July 8, 1776
June 7, 1976
July 4, 1776
1.
On
July 8, 1776
, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented an independence proposal to be
voted on by the Continental Congress.
2.
On
, the Declaration of Independence was officially adopted.
3.
On
, outside the Pennsylvania statehouse, the Declaration of Independence
was read to the public for the first time.
4.
On
, George Washington read about the Declaration of Independence being
signed.
Page 2 of 5
© 2002 CompassLearning Odyssey™
Name _____________________________________________
Date ____________________
Colonists Urged to Use Common Sense
BrainBuilder
LA #654
What Do You Think?
Directions: Answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1. Do you think everyone in the early American colonies agreed with Thomas Paine’s idea of
breaking away from England? Explain your answer.
2. Why do you think it was important for the colonies to write a document stating the reasons
for claiming independence?
3. Why do you think it took three days for George Washington to learn about the colonies
declaring independence?
Page 3 of 5
© 2002 CompassLearning Odyssey™
Name _____________________________________________
Date ____________________
Colonists Urged to Use Common Sense
BrainBuilder
LA #654
A Time for Freedom
In 1776, the colonies were buzzing with excitement. The publishing of Thomas Paine’s Common
Sense pamphlet was one of the first events that openly led to the American colonies declaring their
independence from England.
Select one of the following options for your final project.
Option 1
Your assignment is to develop an electronic or paper-based, illustrated revolutionary time line of
events, beginning with Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense. The time line should end with
the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Include at least four more events during that time
period. Explain what occurred and the importance of each event in the birth of the new nation.
Use PowerPoint, Hyperstudio, Kid Pix, or any other presentation software you might have available
if you are preparing an electronic presentation. Otherwise, explain the importance of each event
on a separate piece of paper.
You can use the library, or with the help of your guide, use the Internet to gather more information
and pictures as you prepare your time line.
Option 2
Imagine that you are a newspaper reporter that attended the signing of the Declaration of
Independence. Your assignment is to write a newspaper article about the Declaration of
Independence and what it means for the colonies. Include your feelings about what the colonies
will be facing now that they have separated from England. Include a political cartoon about the
colonies breaking away from England.
Page 4 of 5
© 2002 CompassLearning Odyssey™
Name _____________________________________________
Date ____________________
Colonists Urged to Use Common Sense
BrainBuilder
LA #654
Teacher Overview and Answer Key
Overview
Gathering
Vocabulary:
Student will identify the different sections of the Declaration of Independence and select
the correct date of key events as the colonies declared independence.
What Do You Think?
Thinking Skills: Student will respond to three open-ended questions about the American independence
movement.
A Time for Freedom
Synthesis:
For the final activity, the student will either prepare a paper-based or electronic,
illustrated time line of events leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence,
or write a newspaper article with a political cartoon explaining his or her view on the
significance and consequences of declaring independence from England.
The Synthesis can be used either as a student homework assignment or as an extension activity for your
class when teaching the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Answer Key
Gathering
Part A
1. d
What Do You Think?
Responses will vary. Main ideas for justifying responses are
listed below.
2. c
1. Not all people agreed with Thomas Paine. Some probably liked
living under the safety net of a larger country like England. Others
probably did not feel that they were being treated unfairly. Others
were probably afraid of what might happen to them if they broke
away from England, either fighting a war or the questionable future
of a small independent nation.
3. a
4. b
Part B
1. June 7, 1776
2. July 4, 1776
3. July 8, 1776
4. July 9, 1776
2. The document helped the colonists really think about and focus on
their reasons for breaking away from England. It also gave
England a clear picture of the reasons for declaring independence.
3. There were no high-speed communications in the 1700s.
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© 2002 CompassLearning Odyssey™