Declaration of Independence
First Impressions: Students read through the Declaration by themselves and then wrote a paragraph with their first impressions.
(4) My first impression of the Declaration of Independence was that it gave me a headache from being very long. It was also boring. And I didn’t know what half of it means.
(2) Reading the Declaration of Independence has made me realize just how few people in our country, and especially in the government, have actually read it for themselves. Even the very second paragraph, if it were written in modern times, would cause outrage for supporting “Marxist/Communist ideals.” And with the way King George is portrayed and talked about this Declaration, why is it that former President Donald Trump was ever elected at all? Why are we allowing him to run for President again? Has he not refused to pass laws of immediate importance and good of the people (par. 3-5, 10), whilst helping take away laws that violate the rights of the people (par. 23-24)? Has he not done everything he can to prevent others from obtaining power, going so far as to stage riots at the White House for supposed ‘miscounted votes’ (par. 8)? Project 2025, the biggest plan he and his supporters have, rings severely of multiple offenses that King George had done on those pages. Why are we even giving a chance to let a tyrant back into our office, when eleven the Declaration of Independence cringes at his actions?
(1) The Declaration of Independence was boring because it’s long, but as a paper from this time it's not bad. For its importance to American culture is outstanding. It speaks about the problems they had as a colony.
(3) I believe the Declaration of Independence was an inspiring work of writing telling the British that we deserve better. If I was part of the congress in 1776, I would write my name as big as John Hancock if I could, because if he’s wiling to fight then I am too! I also give massive kudos to Thomas Jefferson for writing it, now that I think about it he must have worked [very hard] to make this part of history and freedom possible. What are your impressions about this piece of history?
Teacher Note:
I am proud of the range of ideas and knowledge my students have. I love to encourage their writing and thinking skills. I look forward to what these students will take from our discussion of the Declaration over the next two weeks, and the United States Constitution for the month or so after that. All people, and especially our students, should be taught about these documents. They should be encouraged to think critically about our current government and world. They should be allowed their rights of free speech and temper that with critical thinking and being able to prove their stance with citations.
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In class discussion points
Part 1 (the first 2 paragraphs)
In the “Communist Manifesto,” Karl Marx talks about how, under Capitalism and other forms of government, the working class will get used, abused, and suffer more and more until they finally break. The introduction to the Declaration of Independence also talks about how men are “more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”
We equated this statement to Habit 4 from “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens,” where author Sean Covey is explaining what Habit 4 (think win-win) is not. One of the things it is not is a Lose-Win mindset -- this is when you continually allow others to take advantage of you, have their own way, and use you as a mud-gathering rug until you either wise-up or lose your sanity.
Essentially, what are you willing to suffer so that you can stay in your “comfort zone” where you do not have to stand up and confront others?
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In class discussion points
Part 2 -- the grievances, as the Declaration of Independence previously states: “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation” (par.1).
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Ray Raphael reported, in his book “Founding Myths” about what some 1800 historians were saying about the Declaration of Independence. One historian, Mercy Otis Warren wrote that the Declaration of Independence should “be frequently read by the rising youth of the American states, as a palladium of which they should never lose sight,so long as they wish to continue a free and independent people.” (pg.117).
My students are all wondering why they haven’t been introduced to the Declaration of Independence before now. Couldn’t it have been rewritten in easier to understand (modern) language and read aloud every year during every Fourth of July fireworks exhibition? Or printed out in every newspaper and magazine for the Fourth of July?
I, as a teacher, have noticed that many holidays, for which schools did special assemblies and activities for when I was younger (like meeting in the theater in our High School every year to watch a video of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech) are now holidays and students have no idea what the day is about. Without fail, regarding every federal holiday (barring Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving which are about presents, candy, and food) this is the conversation:
Me: “What is so special about (insert holiday here)?”
Student: “We don’t have to go to school.”
With politics always a hot point in discussion and a divisive topic that pits “brother against brother,” shouldn’t we be constantly reading what our country is about? Shouldn’t politicians be considering what is best for their constituents based on the documents of our country? Shouldn’t students be aware of these documents without having to take an actual college course on American History -- I don’t remember reading the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution in even those courses.
What do you have to say about this lack of remembrance for our history and awareness of what the documents that our country is founded on actually say?
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Our class rewording of the Declaration of Independence preamble:
We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that people are born with rights that cannot be taken away such as Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. To protect these rights, people create and allow governments to have power -- when a government destroys these Rights, people have the Right to change or end it and to create a new one to be the most beneficial to their safety and happiness.
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Final Write:
(Student 2)
While reading the Declaration of Independence, it made me realize just how few people in the United States of America have actually read it for themselves.
In the past, the Declaration of Independence served multiple major functions. Most classrooms in the modern era however only focus on one of these, which is that it led to the U.S. breaking off from Britain and becoming a free country, with maybe a tid-bit that it was inspired by the Magna Carta. What is lost in these simplifications is that they also gave reasons for their departure from Britain, and that it would lay the very groundwork for citizens’ rights within the United States. Rights that are currently being challenged.
The second paragraph mentions how it is the right of the people to remove a government if it is not satisfactory. If this had been written in modern times, it would be challenged, specifically by the Republican Party, over “Marxist or Communist” ideals. In the grievances section, the way King George is portrayed and discussed may lead one to questions about former President Donald Trump, who is currently trying to get back into office with his ‘Project 2025’ plan. And especially, how in the world was Donald Trump ever elected at all? What are we letting him run again? Has he not refused to pass laws of immediate importance (paragraph 3-5, 10), whilst helping take away laws that violate the rights of the people (paragraph 23-24)? Has he not, and does he not, plan to do everything he can to prevent others from obtaining power, going so far as to stage riots at the White House for ‘miscounted votes’ (paragraph 8)?
Project 2025, the key part of the Republican Party, led by Trump, rings sourly of the same multiple offenses that King George had committed. Why are we giving a chance for a tyrant to be led back into office, when even the Declaration of Independence cringes at his actions?
I encourage you, dear reader, to see for yourself the grievances the Declaration of Independence puts forth and question, is Trump truly the man for the “Land of the Free”?
(Student 3)
The Declaration of Independence is a document that should be part of the life of every American today. It is still as relevant as it was in 1776.
If this document never happened, we would be British slaves and other countries would not have been inspired to fight for freedom. This is the thing that created our country -- without it the United States would still be in thirteen different colonies! Our founding fathers fought for the right of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (paragraph 2).
This document is barely used in today’s government, or discussed in daily life. It seems no one actually reads the Declaration! If we followed, read, and understood it -- America might actually regain its original greatness!
Hello? Yes, you, the reader, should read this piece of history and judge whether our government needs to change or be ended. You, me, and everyone around us have power and rights.
(Student 1)
I think the Declaration of Independence should be more accessible to the people and it should be more noticeable, as it was in 1776.
Let’s be honest, when is the last time you read the Declaration of Independence? It has a lot of things to think about so that we could fix today’s problems.
It had a great effect on our history. If the Declaration of Independence wasn’t written, we probably would still be British slaves, or at least, still part of the British Empire.
You, go read the Declaration of Independence RIGHT NOW to see what the government wants to hide from you!!!
(Student 4)
The Declaration of Independence is a document that should be as valuable and instructive today as it was in 1776.
It was important because we are not British slaves today. It showed everyone else they could claim their independence. It created the United States.
It means almost nothing today because of religion’s control over thought and because people don’t read it.
You, the reader, should read the Declaration of Independence for yourself and judge whether our government is in need of change or abolishment.