This document outlines the agenda and lesson plan for a class on evaluating the foundations of American government as outlined in the Declaration of Independence. The lesson plan includes discussing the objective, warming up with questions about key concepts, reviewing the Declaration of Independence, having students complete Frayer models on vocabulary, evaluating primary source documents, and creating their own Declaration of Independence in groups.

1. Objective
SW evaluate the foundations of American government
outlined in the Declaration of Independence in
order to create a personal Declaration of Independence.
Warm-Up
1. What does limited government mean?
2. What does social contract mean?
3. What benefit is government supposed to provide to
the people according to John Locke?

2. Agenda
• Objective and Warm-Up
• INM: The Declaration of Independence
• Frayer Models
• GP: How to evaluate a Primary Source Document
• IP: Evaluating Two Treatises of Government
• Exit Slip

3. Agenda
• Objective and Warm-Up
• INM: The Declaration of Independence
• Frayer Models
• GP: How to evaluate a Primary Source Document
• IP: Evaluating Two Treatises of Government
• Exit Slip

4. British Rule of America

5. British Rule of America
• King George III viewed American colonies as a
source of wealth

6. British Rule of America
• King George III viewed American colonies as a
source of wealth

7. British Rule of America
• King George III viewed American colonies as a
source of wealth

8. British Rule of America
• King George III viewed American colonies as a
source of wealth
$$

9. British Rule of America
• King George III viewed American colonies as a
source of wealth
$$

10. British Rule of America
• King George III viewed American colonies as a
source of wealth

11. British Rule of America
• King George III viewed American colonies as a
source of wealth
• Levied taxes on tea, sugar, glass, paper, and other
products

12. British Rule of America
• King George III viewed American colonies as a
source of wealth
• Levied taxes on tea, sugar, glass, paper, and other
products
• Stamp Act of 1765: Colonists have to pay
taxes on almost EVERYTHING

13. A Lack of Fairness
DO NOT WRITE THIS
• Thomas Paine argues that Monarchy was a corrupt
form of government.
• Samuel Adams proposes that America become
independent from British rule.
• Robert Lee introduces a proposal for
independence to the Continental Congress

14. The Declaration of
Independence

15. The Declaration of
Independence

16. The Declaration of
Independence
• Written by Thomas Jefferson

17. The Declaration of
Independence
• Written by Thomas Jefferson

18. The Declaration of
Independence
• Written by Thomas Jefferson

19. The Declaration of
Independence
• Written by Thomas Jefferson
• Based on the theories of John Locke, as well as the
Magna Carta

20. The Declaration of
Independence
• Written by Thomas Jefferson
• Based on the theories of John Locke, as well as the
Magna Carta
• Americans felt they were being wronged by the
British Government

21. Declaration of Independence,
part 2
• Based the U.S. Government on principles of liberty
[freedom] and consent of the governed
• All men are created equal
• All have unalienable Rights
• Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
• Government gets powers from the people

22. DEFINITION DRAWING or DESCRIPTION
idea that government
receives powers from the
people
consent of the governed
EXAMPLE NON-EXAMPLE
Declaration of When a gov’t takes over
Independence with military force

23. DEFINITION DRAWING or
DESCRIPTION
rights that cannot be
• life
taken away
• liberty
• pursuit of happiness
• property
unalienable rights
EXAMPLE NON-EXAMPLE
a right to an education a right to a Playstation 3

24. GP: The Declaration
• The Declaration of Independence is split into
______ different sections.
• The sections are:
• __________________
• List of Grievances
• __________________

25. GP: The Declaration
• The Declaration of Independence is split into
three
______ different sections.
• The sections are:
• __________________
• List of Grievances
• __________________

26. GP: The Declaration
• The Declaration of Independence is split into
three
______ different sections.
• The sections are:
• Declaration of Natural Rights
__________________
• List of Grievances
• __________________

27. GP: The Declaration
• The Declaration of Independence is split into
three
______ different sections.
• The sections are:
• Declaration of Natural Rights
__________________
• List of Grievances
• Resolution of Independence
__________________

28. GP: The Declaration
• Take out your copy of the Declaration of
Independence, and assist me in identifying key details
• Be prepared to help with filling out the DoI graphic
organizer.

29. U.S. Declaration of Independence
1. Declaration of Natural Rights
What are the natural rights? How do we explain them to others?
How is government created and ended?
Who should always have power?

30. U.S. Declaration of Independence
2. List of Grievances
What problems has the King caused?

31. U.S. Declaration of Independence
3. Resolution of Independence
How did they declare the government will change?
What did they want their government to be like?
Which government power system does it sound like they wanted?

32. Independent Practice

33. Independent Practice
• You have been split up into groups;

34. Independent Practice
• You have been split up into groups;
• You must listen carefully for your instructions;

35. Independent Practice
• You have been split up into groups;
• You must listen carefully for your instructions;
• You must create your own Declaration of Independence,
including:

36. Independent Practice
• You have been split up into groups;
• You must listen carefully for your instructions;
• You must create your own Declaration of Independence,
including:
• List and explain 4 unalienable rights;

37. Independent Practice
• You have been split up into groups;
• You must listen carefully for your instructions;
• You must create your own Declaration of Independence,
including:
• List and explain 4 unalienable rights;
• List of 5 major grievances;

38. Independent Practice
• You have been split up into groups;
• You must listen carefully for your instructions;
• You must create your own Declaration of Independence,
including:
• List and explain 4 unalienable rights;
• List of 5 major grievances;
• A summary of how you will provide yourself with a
high quality education, now that you have separated
from the rule of Ms. Nicholson.

39. Watch the video below
for your classwork.

40. Homework:
Write a M.E.E.A.L. (5 total sentences) format BCR using the
following prompt.
Read the quotation below from the Declaration of
Independence.
“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed”
Explain the concept of consent of the governed and its
importance in establishing the United States of America.
In your response, include the type of government that consent
of the governed would promote and why.

41. Exit Slip:
1. You will have 5 minutes to complete today’s exit slip.
2. Please only write the letter of your answer in the
appropriate blank.
3. Complete it in silence.
4. When you are done, carefully check over your
answers.
5. After checking your answers, please begin your
homework.

42. 3, 2, 1, See Ya!
What are 3 things that you learned today?
What are 2 things that confused you?
What is 1 thing you want to know more
about?