SOL USI.6bSOL USI.6bThe Declaration of The Declaration of

IndependenceIndependence

Lisa PenningtonLisa Pennington

Social Studies Instructional Social Studies Instructional SpecialistSpecialist

Portsmouth Public SchoolsPortsmouth Public Schools

Key WordsKey Words Unalienable rights: rights that cannot be taken awayUnalienable rights: rights that cannot be taken away Inherent: natural; rights people are born withInherent: natural; rights people are born with Derive: to come fromDerive: to come from The English Bill of Rights of 1689: made Parliament The English Bill of Rights of 1689: made Parliament

more powerful than the English king. All new taxes more powerful than the English king. All new taxes had to be approved by Parliament first. had to be approved by Parliament first.

Essential KnowledgeEssential Knowledge

New political New political ideas led to a ideas led to a desire for desire for independence independence and democratic and democratic government in government in the American the American colonies.colonies.

Essential KnowledgeEssential Knowledge

The Declaration of The Declaration of Independence Independence proclaimed proclaimed independence independence from England. It from England. It stated that people stated that people have natural have natural (inherent) rights (inherent) rights to life, liberty, and to life, liberty, and the pursuit of the pursuit of happiness. happiness.

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

What ideas/philosophies about What ideas/philosophies about government were expressed in the government were expressed in the Declaration of Independence?Declaration of Independence?

Key Philosophies in the Key Philosophies in the Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence Key philosophies in Key philosophies in

the Declaration of the Declaration of Independence were Independence were based upon ideas first based upon ideas first expressed by expressed by European European philosophers. philosophers.

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Key Philosophies in the Key Philosophies in the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

People have People have certain certain “unalienable “unalienable rights” to life, rights” to life, liberty, and the liberty, and the pursuit of pursuit of happiness. happiness. (Unalienable (Unalienable rights are rights rights are rights that cannot be that cannot be taken away.) taken away.)

Key Philosophies in the Key Philosophies in the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

People establish government to People establish government to protect those rights.protect those rights.

Key Philosophies in the Key Philosophies in the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

Government Government derives power derives power from the people. from the people.

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Key Philosophies in the Key Philosophies in the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence

People have a right and a duty to People have a right and a duty to change a government that violates change a government that violates their rights. their rights.

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Think About It…Think About It…

How do people in the United How do people in the United States show the government States show the government they are not happy? they are not happy?

Why do you think the Why do you think the philosophies in the Declaration philosophies in the Declaration of Independence are important? of Independence are important?