Declaration of Independence ~ Primary Source Analysis
Name______________________________________
Date______________________Period_______
The Declaration of Independence is the most significant of all of the "founding documents". In 1776,
it put into words the reasons why the American were willing to fight for independence form Great
Britain.
On June 7, 1776 Richard Henry Lee of Virginia put forth the motion to the Continental Congress that
the Americans break all ties with the ruling empire. Upon approving the motion, Congress appointed
a committee to prepare a statement explaining the separation. The committee included John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston. The committee chose
Jefferson, a gifted writer to draft the statement.
Directions: Using the Chrome Books, go to
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
Copy the quote from the Dec. of Independence where it addresses the question. Then, paraphrase the
quote into your own words.
1. When was the declaration approved by Congress?
2. According to the preamble why was the document written?
3. According to Jefferson, what are the TWO self-evident truths? (Quote the document exactly)
"____________________________________________________________________________________________________"
"____________________________________________________________________________________________________"
In your own words:
4. According to Jefferson, what are the unalienable rights?
"____________________________________________________________________________________________________"
In your own words:
5. What is the definition of an unalienable right?
6. What is the role and purpose of government?
"____________________________________________________________________________________________________"
In your own words:
7. According to the document, where does the government get its power?
"____________________________________________________________________________________________________"
In your own words:
8. When a government no longer protects its people, they have the right to:
"____________________________________________________________________________________________________"
In your own words:
9. Write THREE grievances that relate directly to the Intolerable Acts:
1.
2.
3.
10. Quote the line that describes King George III's most serious crime against the colonists.
Explain why you think so: