Declaration of independence breakdown work sheet.

Topic 1.1: Ideals of Democracy Source Analysis
Before You Read Political scientists analyze founding documents for ways that they relate to our government today. They focus less on the historical situation and more on how the principles established in the documents were used to create our governmental structures. As you prepare to read the Declaration of Independence from a political science perspective, take a moment and think about what some of the main themes in the Declaration mean to you. When you think about our government, how do you think these principles relate?- What individual rights should a government protect its people?
The bill of rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. The Bill of rights defends and defines the rights of individuals under the constitution.- What government should provide for the people?
1.Making sure people are safe
2.Minimum standard of living guarantee 3.Speech freedom
4.Rights of voting
5.Treating everyone equally
- How the people hold government accountable?The Declaration of Independence
As you read the text, consider how the author develops an argument for independence that reflects his perspective on the nature and purpose of government. Try to identify the evidence he uses to support his argument. Think about how Jefferson defines rights and how government relates to those rights. The questions you see in the margin will guide your note-taking and help you see the evidence and reasoning Jefferson uses. Definitions for some non-academic vocabulary words and phrases can be found at the bottom of the page.
Second Continental Congress, July 4,1776 In Congress, July 4, 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.
(dissolve: bring to an end; entitle: establish a right to; impel: force or urge)
- Use the space below to rewrite what Jefferson is saying in your own words.- Find the phrase “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God" in this paragraph. Use context clues within the text to determine what Jefferson means.