English IIIEnglish III

Nonfiction UnitNonfiction Unit

Journal Entry

Why do rules & laws exist throughout the USA? Do you think this country

could operate without them? Why or why not? Explain. (1/4 pg)

Complaints, Complaints!Complaints, Complaints!

With a partner, make a list of complaints you have. Laws School rules Family rules The way things are run Etc.

You have approximately 10 minutes to make your list full of complaints.

So, what are you going to do about it?

Look at your list of complaints and answer the following:1. Who are you going to send your complaints to?2. Why would you send them to this/these person/people?3. What reasons would you give as to why your complaints are

worthwhile?4. Why should things be changed?5. Could you summarize your desire for the changes into one

sentence?6. IS there anything in particular the reader should notice

about your complaints?7. Is there anything you need to keep in mind to make sure

your audience understands and appreciates your complaints?

8. What events inspired your complaints?9. Have you already tried to make any changes? What/how?10.Would you be willing to sign your name to this list of

complaints, even if it were going to be seen and read by many people?

The Break-Up LetterThe Break-Up Letter

I’m not sure how to start this letter but I feel we really need to talk. I’ve been thinking about us a lot lately. Things used to be so great – it was like we were M.F.E.O. I mean, everyone said it was perfect. I really thought we would be together, forever, but then things changed.

I feel like you started to take me for granted. You just started to do whatever you wanted and never even asked me about anything or how I felt.

The Break-Up LetterThe Break-Up Letter

I’ve been thinking about this for a while and I don’t want to hurt you, but I think it is time we broke up. I mean, it’s just not going to work. I need some time by myself to see what it is like on my own. I’m sorry things didn’t work out but I do think YOU are the one to blame. Sorry, but “US” is over.

The Break-Up LetterThe Break-Up Letter

Take care,

The American Colonies

Who is Thomas Jefferson?Who is Thomas Jefferson?

Albemarle County, Virginia

Attended the College of William & Mary

Was a lawyer and government representative for the state of Virginia.

Wrote a pamphlet in 1774 rejecting parliament; was later asked to help write the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress.

Who is Thomas Jefferson?Who is Thomas Jefferson?

Was the 3rd president of the US

Was publically against slavery yet owned 200 slaves of his own; he did free or allow his slaves to run away without punishment.

Had 3 children with his chambermaid Sally Hemings.

Rumored he was one of the first to serve french fries at his home in Monticello.

Did you know?Did you know? There was no “United States of America” in

the declaration. The title “USA” didn’t come around until the Second

Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation in 1781.

The Declaration of Independence calls the USA the 13 united states of America.

Jefferson was upset that banning slavery was edited out of the DofI.

A bargain-hunter found a copy of one of the first printings of the DofI in an old picture he purchased for $4; he sold the DofI for 8.14 million dollars.

True or False?True or False?

John Hancock’s name is signed the largest because he was the one who wrote the DofI.

John Hancock’s name is signed the largest because he was proving a point to King George saying “I’m sure he’ll be able to see that!”

John Hancock’s name is signed the largest because it was just the way he wrote his name.

FactsFacts Independence Hall

Where the Declaration of Independence was signed & adopted in 1776; Located on the back of $1 bill

Ottendorf Cipher A cipher where the key is part of a literary piece;

decodes hidden messages

Trinity Church One of the oldest churches in America George Washington had his own pew

The National Archives Holds the original documents that set up the American

government (ie. Bill of Rights, Charters of Freedom, US Constitution, & Declaration of Independence)

The inventory could circle the world more than 57 times if arranged side-by-side.

FactsFacts Charles Carroll

Last surviving signer of the declaration

All-Seeing Eye AKA “The Eye of Providence” Represents watching over mankind; on the back of $1 bill

Free Masons Fraternal organization dating back to the 17th century Philanthropic; known as Masons today (Masonry Lodge)

Knights of Templar Skilled fighters during the Crusades; non-fighters were

bankers Still around today: http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/31/what-is-the-knights-templar/

The Declaration of The Declaration of IndependenceIndependence Broken up into six parts:

Preamble Statement of beliefs List of complaints Statement of prior attempts Declaration of independence The signatures

NOTE: You will need to bring your books the rest of the week!

What do you find most interesting about the history of America? Why?

Journal EntryJournal Entry

The PreambleThe Preamble When in the course of human events, it becomes

necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another… Whenever a group of people needs to split from their

government… 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… And assert their God-given independence equally…

A decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation… It’s always important to spell out the reasons why…

Statement of BeliefsStatement of Beliefs

We hold these truths to be self evident… We think it’s pretty obvious…

That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights… That God created every person equal and he

gave each person specific unchanging rights which should never be trampled upon…

That among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness… These include the right of the people to live

life in freedom (without undue harm), and pursue their dreams and goals.

Statement of BeliefsStatement of Beliefs That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted

among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed… The very reason we have man-made governments is to

protect these rights, not to interfere with them. Furthermore, whatever power and authority governments have are given by the people’s permission and limited to their protection.

That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it… When any government starts to undermine the very

purpose of protecting the people, freedoms, and happiness of the people, then they have the right to change the government or, yes, even to pull the plug on the government if things get too bad.

Statement of BeliefsStatement of Beliefs And to institute new government, laying its foundation on such

principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem more likely to effect their safety and happiness. The people have the right to set up a newer, better government

based and organized on tried and true rules that protect, rather than threaten, their safety and happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes… Now, it’s not wise to change a long-standing government for

some trivial or fleeting reason or for the latest political fad… And accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more

disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. And, in fact, history shows that people are more likely to put up

with unbearable evil (They even get used to it!), than they are to correct the problem. You know the saying: Put a frog in hot water and he’ll jump out; but put him in cool water and gradually turn up the heat and he’ll fry to death.

Statement of BeliefsStatement of Beliefs But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably

the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. But when a government becomes tyrannical and abusive with

consistent, repeated violations of the people’s rights, with the intent to make them slaves of the state, then the people have the right – in fact, the duty to revolt against the government and put new rules in place to protect their future rights.

Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is not the necessity which constrains them to expunge their former systems of government. The history of the present king of Great Britain is a history of unremitting injuries and usurpations, among which appears no solitary face to contradict the uniform tenor of the rest, but all have in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states.

These colonies have suffered, patiently, enough! It’s not necessary to fire their former governments; it’s necessary to fire King George because of his constant pain and suffering he causes without remorse!

ComplaintsComplaints Read your complaint from the Declaration of

Independence.

Analyze it; understand it; break it down so you know what it’s saying.

Glue or tape your printed complaint from the original Declaration to a piece of construction paper.

Re-write or summarize the complaint so that your classmates will understand it. (Please don’t use slang.) Make it “pretty!”

ComplaintsComplaints He refuses to follow laws created for the good of people He forbids important laws to be passed He refuses to pass laws for colonies unless they give up

legislative spots He exhausts legislature to get his way He is slowly getting rid of the house of representatives

for not agreeing with him He won’t let others be elected in colonies He won’t let people move into colonies He is eliminating the Administration of Justice by taking

away their power He makes judges his “dogs” – he puts them on

“lockdown”

ComplaintsComplaints He created new jobs for his people and sent officers

to harass people in other colonies. He puts armies in colonies without permission from

the colony’s legislatures He gave the military power He created a foreign constitution on his own terms He put soldiers in colonists homes He protects his soldiers by fake trials He won’t allow importing/exporting of goods He taxes people without permission He took away the jury courts for colonists which led

to unfair trials He sends people away for false crimes

ComplaintsComplaints

He reconstructed all laws He took away colonies legislatures and made

Great Britain the prime ruler He put war on colonists without protection He killed, ruined and took over everyone and

everything He sent armies to kill colonists who

“disobeyed” He made colonists kill their own kind or

themselves He brought in the Indians to fight the colonists

Are you a “doer” or a “fusser”? Explain.

Journal EntryJournal Entry

Prior AttemptsPrior Attempts

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injuries. We’ve tried to tell you, King George, of our

complaints, and you keep ignoring us and hurting us even more!

A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of people. You’re a bully, and bullies suck as rulers!

Prior AttemptsPrior Attempts Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British

brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. Um, we’ve told the British people as well – we

warned them that we were going to retaliate if they didn’t stop trying to rule us with vigor. We warned them that there will be consequences for their actions. We were here first and made our lives here; we have been nothing but willing to work, until now.

Prior AttemptsPrior Attempts

They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. The British have ignored our attempts of having a

fair government and life together with you, King George. We, therefore, have no other option than to say we are going to separate from you in all manners possible.

Declaring IndependenceDeclaring Independence

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. W We, the representatives of the states in America, declare that these

colonies are all now free and independent states; this has been declared that they will no longer be under control of the British crown in any manner possible. All political ties have been cut. These newly freed and independent states have the right to levy war, keep the peace, form alliances, create commerce with importing and exporting and anything else they may want to do in the best interest of their people.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. We, therefore, pledge our lives, fortunes and sacred honor to our higher

power that this declaration shall stand true forever.

The SignaturesThe Signatures

Secrets of the Dollar Bill Secrets of the Dollar Bill

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6534861207969567641

When in the Course of Human When in the Course of Human EventsEvents

Draft your own declaration!

Use the complaints you created last week

Your declaration should include the same sections as the original declaration: Preamble (why you’re writing it) Statement of beliefs (what you believe should be happening) List of complaints – at least 5 (obvious…) Prior attempts (what you’ve already done to change these issues) Declaring independence (how you’re going to solve the issue) Signatures (again… obvious)

Begin your declaration with words from the actual preamble… When in the course of human events…

Type up your declaration & make it visually appealing! You can even put it on parchment paper, write in calligraphy or burn the edges to make it look more authentic!

What Experience Hath ShownWhat Experience Hath Shown

In small groups, you will travel around the room and analyze different documents, completing venn-diagrams for each (ex. DofI vs. ______)

You will be analyzing the following documents: The Iroquios Constitution (p. 154) The Declaration of Women’s Rights (p. 159) The Crisis No. 1 (pg. 132) The Speech to VA Convention (p. 122)

Be sure to fill out your diagrams with as much information as possible and be specific! You will be asked to share the information and possibly debate any disputes between groups’ findings.

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin

Read “Ben Franklin’s Autobiography” p. 166 Answer ?s 1, 2, 3 on page 173 Journal Entry

Discuss facts you found from the “Silence Dogood Letters”

Read “Poor Richard’s Almanac” p. 171

Create your own aphorism! Ex: “An apple a day keeps the doctor

away.”